2023 Pegasus Stakes Preview & FREE Picks | Kingsbarns Leads Monmouth Park’s Prep For Haskell Stakes

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.

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):

1. Classic Catch (Todd Pletcher, Paco Lopez)
2. Moreau (Andrew McKeever, Florent Geroux)
3. No Confession (John McAllen, Pedro Cotto, Jr.)
4. Salute the Stars (Brad Cox, Joel Rosario)
5. Alternate Reality (Chris Englehart, Jacqueline Davis)
6. Subrogate (Jorge Duarte, Jevian Toledo)
7. Howgreatisnate (Elizabeth Dobles, Jairo Rendon)
8. 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:

1. Tribhuvan (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux)
2. Never Explain (Shug McGaughey, Luis Saez)
3. Speaking Scout (Graham Motion, Jorge Ruiz)
4. Dynadrive (Thomas Morley, Nik Juarez)
5. Commandeer (James Toner, Paco Lopez)
6. Catnip (Michael Stidham, Joel Rosario)

The 52^nd 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:

1. Surprisingly (Shug McGaughey, Paco Lopez)
2. Vergara (Graham Motion, Jorge Ruiz)
3. Consumer Spending (Chad Brown, Samy Camacho)
4. Scotish Star (Todd Pletcher, Luis Saez)
5. Spirit and Glory (Robert Falcone, Jr., Nik Juarez)
6. Malavath (Christophe Clement, Joel Rosario)
7. Katies a Lady (Darien Rodriguez, Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.)
8. 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:

1. Petulante (Victor Barboza, Jr., Luis Saez)
2. Ridin With Biden (Butch Reid, Paco Lopez)
3. Empty Tomb (Robert Falcone, Jr., Samy Camacho)
4. Far Mo Power (Louis Linder, Dexter Haddock)
5. Bourbon Calling (Antonio Arriaga, Jorge A. Vargas, Jr.)
6. Octane (Carlos David, Jairo Rendon)
7. Trademark (Vicki Oliver, Joel Rosario)
8. Nimitz Class (Bruce Kravets, Jevian Toledo)
9. Artorius (Chad Brown, Florent Geroux)
10. 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.