6/13/2020

 8   MTH    The Pegasus Stakes
  $150.000    3yo      1 1/16m  Dirt        123lbs +penalties

A nice field of ten sophomores will be headed to the post on Saturday afternoon and we look at the field for The Pegasus Stakes, to be run at a mile and a sixteenth here in NJ.  I’m looking towards the outside posts for my choices in this one and landed on Cairn Toul as my top choice.  That was a nice effort when second at PIM vs. older horses for the first time, and I think a repeat of that race would probably get the job done here.  I’ll look at either side of the top choice for my other’s as Obeah Mon and Belo Horizonte both look to be the best threats to that one.  Both were runner-ups in stakes races last out, both were closing in the late stages and both have the history to show they are able to run with this class of horse and be tough.  There’s a few others with a shot, but let’s run with these and see if we can handicap this one right.

Here’s The Field –

He was second in the Swale (GIII) then ran well in a couple of stakes races are LRL (free), then chucked a dud in the PIM Special (GIII) facing older horses for the first time.  He will throw a bad one every now and again, so I’m not down on him, but this is a tough spot to get back in the win column.  I’ll overlook him, but may regret that.

Got back on the winning side of things taking an N1XAlw at PRX, getting home by a head in that one.  It certainly doesn’t get any easier here today, so he’s going to need his best to be any parts of this one. 

He’s about as consistent as you could want a horse to be… hasn’t been off of the board in his last six showing three wins, a pair of runner-ups and a third over that period.  Kicked butt last out cruising home by five at CD going a mile and an eight, so the big barn brings him here with a ton of hope. 

Was given a shot at the TC trail but it just wasn’t in the cards so he’s changed hands again and won an Alw race for the new barn.  Got home by two showing tactical speed and an ability to get the job done.  He takes a step up here, and will have to bring his game today. 

Made it two in a row and this one is always in the mix when they hand out checks.  On the boar in six of seven starts and seems to be getting better with every start.  The vet paid a visit before that last out win, so his mind is on racing and not fillies.  He looks ready to be a major part of this one. 

Broke maiden in the first start on the move over to Mb Stables, going wire-to-wire in a route to break maiden at PIM.  The big stable changed a medications and dropped the hood for the roll and it certainly seemed to quicken him up.  Does he earn black-type here?

Nice runner-up effort at PRX last out when beaten a long neck in the PRX Derby.  He has a pair of wins from his nine starts and took a couple of tough beats while trying the best of his class.  The gelding seems to have woke him up a bit as well, so I think you have to give him a big chance to get the job done in this one.

Very nice runner-up effort in the PIM Special (GIII) last out while facing older horses for the first time.  I thought this one would be on the TC trail as he was second in a a bunch of prep races, but it just wasn’t in the cards.  This could be a place for him to get on the right side of black-type.

Another that has a runner-up start coming into this one, as he just missed vs. ON-breds north of the border.  He stretches back out today after that 7f sprint, so pace and his style could lent a lot since he caught an outside post. 

Sold at the Mar Auction and has been on a steady series of am gallops getting ready for this one.  He finished out ’19 down in FLA chasing state-bred horses and looks to step up in class going after opens stakes here.  He seems to be working well and the barn knows what they have so let’s see if he comes out firing in this one.

Categories: STAKES ARTICLES, Ungraded