Aaron previews the 2023 Pegasus Stakes from Monmouth Park, then gives his top picks & long shots. The Todd Pletcher-trained Kingsbarns leads a field of 8 entered in the local prep race for the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1). Can the Louisiana Derby (G2) champion win after finishing 14th in the Kentucky Derby (G1)? Tell us YOUR thoughts in the Comments section!
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The press release:
Louisiana Derby winner Kingsbarns and recent Long Branch Stakes winner Howgreatisnate head a field of eight 3-year-olds for Saturday’s Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park – one of four stakes races on Haskell Preview Day.
The 14-race card features the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes, the Grade 3 Salvator Mile and the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes, with multiple Grade 1-winner Tribhuvan headlining that field.
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The $150,000 Pegasus Stakes, at a mile and a sixteenth, serves as the local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes on July 22.
The field from the rail out for the Pegasus Stakes (with trainer and jockey):
- Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher, Paco Lopez)
- Moreau (Andrew McKeever, Florent Geroux)
- No Confession (John McAllen, Pedro Cotto, Jr.)
- Salute the Stars (Brad Cox, Joel Rosario)
- Alternate Reality (Chris Englehart, Jacqueline Davis)
- Subrogate (Jorge Duarte, Jevian Toledo)
- Howgreatisnate (Elizabeth Dobles, Jairo Rendon)
- Kingsbarns (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez)
Tribhuvan, who won the Grade 1 United Nations at Monmouth Park in 2021, will likely try to repeat in that race as a 7-year-old, making his seasonal debut in the $150,000 Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes at a mile and an eighth on the turf. The Monmouth Stakes is the prep for the United Nations.
Tribhuvan, who also won the Grade 1 Manhattan Stakes at Belmont Park in 2022, has not raced since Aug. 27. He was fourth in the United Nations a year ago.
The six-horse field for the Monmouth Stakes from the rail out:
- Tribhuvan (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux)
- Never Explain (Shug McGaughey, Luis Saez)
- Speaking Scout (Graham Motion, Jorge Ruiz)
- Dynadrive (Thomas Morley, Nik Juarez)
- Commandeer (James Toner, Paco Lopez)
- Catnip (Michael Stidham, Joel Rosario)
The 52nd running of the Eatontown Stakes, at a mile and a sixteenth on the turf for fillies and mares, 3 and up, drew a field of eight as well. The Eatontown Stakes, which carries a purse of $150,000, serves as the prep for the Grade 3, $300,000 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes on the Haskell undercard.
That Eatontown Stakes field from the rail out is as follows:
- Surprisingly (Shug McGaughey, Paco Lopez)
- Vergara (Graham Motion, Jorge Ruiz)
- Consumer Spending (Chad Brown, Samy Camacho)
- Scotish Star (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez)
- Spirit and Glory (Robert Falcone, Jr., Nik Juarez)
- Malavath (Christophe Clement, Joel Rosario)
- Katies a Lady (Darien Rodriguez, Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.)
- Gina Romantic (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux)
The 76th running of the Salvator Mile, with a purse of $150,000, attracted a field of 10. The Salvator Mile is the prep for the Grade 3 $400,000 Monmouth Cup on the Haskell day undercard.
The field for the Salvator Mile for 3 year olds and up from the rail out:
- Petulante (Victor Barboza, Jr., Luis Saez)
- Ridin With Biden (Butch Reid, Paco Lopez)
- Empty Tomb (Robert Falcone, Jr., Samy Camacho)
- Far Mo Power (Louis Linder, Dexter Haddock)
- Bourbon Calling (Antonio Arriaga, Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.)
- Octane (Carlos David, Jairo Rendon)
- Trademark (Vicki Oliver, Joel Rosario)
- Nimitz Class (Bruce Kravets, Jevian Toledo)
- Artorius (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux)
- Bourbonic (Todd Pletcher, Jose Ferrer)
First race post time is 12:40 p.m. The four stakes races on the card will go as races 10 through 13, starting with the Pegasus Stakes.
