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Mandaloun Looks to Fly High in Pegasus

Juddmonte homebred and GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun (Into Mischief) tops a small field set for Sunday's TVG Pegasus S., the local prep for the $1-million GI TVG.com Haskell Invitational S. at Monmouth July 17.

Opening his account with a pair of wins in Kentucky, the 'TDN Rising Star' was third as the 4-5 favorite in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 16 and rebounded to win that venue's GII Risen Star S. Feb. 13. A puzzling sixth as the favorite in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 20, Mandaloun got back on track in a big way on the first Saturday in May, coming up just a half-length short of Medina Spirit (Protonico), earning a field-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.

Mandaloun could be elevated to first in the Derby after a split sample confirmed the prohibited corticosteroid betamethasone in Medina Spirit earlier this month.

“I want him to get some experience at Monmouth and I'm looking to use the race as a fitness tool, as a prep from the Haskell,” said trainer Brad Cox, who also won last weekend's GI Belmont S. with Essential Quality (Tapit). “I didn't want to go 11 weeks without a race. This was the race we thought made the most sense on the calendar.”

Cox continued, “He's doing great. Obviously we wouldn't be coming if he wasn't doing well.”

Also exiting the Derby is Brooklyn Strong (Wicked Strong), who finished 15th that day and bypassed GI Belmont S. in favor of this spot. Capturing the NY-bred Sleepy Hollow S. last October, the gelding won the GII Remsen S. at Aqueduct Dec. 5 and made his next appearance at that oval Apr. 3, finishing fifth in the GII Wood Memorial S.

Wood Memorial fourth-place finisher Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile) makes his first start since here. The dark bay narrowly captured the GIII Gotham S. prior to that last-out effort.

Todd Pletcher saddles the undefeated Dr Jack (Pioneerof the Nile). A debut winner at Gulfstream Apr. 2, the bay captured a two-turn Pimlico optional claimer May 14.

Rounding out the field is Lugamo (Chitu), who was 12th in the G2 UAE Derby when last seen Mar. 27.

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Cox: Kentucky Derby Runner-Up Mandaloun Using Pegasus To Build Fitness, Prep For Haskell

Trainer Brad Cox is looking for Sunday's TVG.com Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park to serve a dual purpose for Kentucky Derby runner-up Mandaloun.

One is to get some added fitness into his speedy 3-year-old, who has been idle since May 1. The other is to give the son of Into Mischief a race over the track.

Both are key elements in setting up Mandaloun's next start: The $1 million TVG.com Haskell Stakes on July 17, the Grade 1 race that serves as the centerpiece to the Monmouth Park meet.

“I want him to get some experience at Monmouth and I'm looking to use the race as a fitness tool, as a prep from the Haskell,” said Cox, who plans to fly in from Kentucky on Sunday morning to watch the race in person. “I didn't want to go 11 weeks without a race. This was the race we thought made the most sense on the calendar.”

The 40th edition of the Pegasus Stakes, at a mile and a sixteenth for 3-year-olds, has a recent history that suggests Cox's horse will have to earn whatever he gets.

Two years ago, disqualified Kentucky Derby winner Maximum Security finished second as the 1-20 favorite to King for a Day in the Pegasus Stakes before going on to win the Haskell.

Mandaloun, a Kentucky-bred colt owned by Juddmonte, sports a 3-1-1 line from six career starts with earnings of $961,252. He will enter the Pegasus off a six-week layoff.

“He's doing great,” said Cox. “Obviously we wouldn't be coming if he wasn't doing well. He ships today (Thursday) and hopefully he will get settled in quickly and be ready for Sunday.”

These are heady times for Cox, who is also mapping out a schedule for Belmont Stakes winner and last year's 2-year-old champion Essential Quality. Cox's plans have Essential Quality shipping to Saratoga in July and pointing to the Travers Stakes.

As hectic as it is for him, Cox would not have it any other way.

“I love everything about it,” he said. “It's why you get up and do this and spend so much time and effort and basically dedicate your life to it. It's the big stage.

“For me, 3-year-olds on the dirt going two turns, that's what it is all about. This is the division I like. The Triple Crown is a challenging thing for horses and it takes special horses to compete at that level. I feel very fortunate to be a part of it.”

Mandaloun's stalking, close-to-the pace running style looks to be well suited for Monmouth Park, too.

“He is usually forwardly placed,” said Cox. “Any time you have speed like he does it's a big advantage. I'm not saying he is going to be on the lead in this race but he will be near the lead I'm sure. Any time you have his running style it normally puts you in a good position.”

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‘A Valued Friend Of Monmouth Park’: Baffert Trainees Would Be Welcome In Haskell

Following Wednesday's news of Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert's two-year suspension at Churchill Downs, Inc.-owned racetracks, Monmouth Park in Oceanport, NJ has taken an opposing stance. The Asbury Park Press reports that Dennis Drazin, chairman and CEO of Darby Development LLC, which operates Monmouth, would “welcome” a Baffert-trained horse to run in his track's premier race, the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational, scheduled for July 17.

“I'm sure there will be those that disagree with me and think we should ban him, but we're not doing that at Monmouth Park,” Drazin told the APP. “Bob Baffert has been a big part of Monmouth Park. He has brought his top horses to the Haskell every year, including American Pharoah. I think he has done a lot for New Jersey racing and always showcased the best horses here and Bob is a valued friend of Monmouth Park who we always felt was on our side and always did right by us. I consider Bob a friend of Monmouth Park.”

Baffert has won the Haskell a record nine times.

Churchill's actions this week stem from the news that Baffert-trained Medina Spirit, who crossed the wire first in the Kentucky Derby on May 1, subsequently tested positive for betamethasone, a race-day restricted therapeutic medication. Early Wednesday, news broke that the split sample had also returned a positive result for betamethasone, meaning Medina Spirit may be disqualified from his Derby victory by the KHRC.

Baffert's suspension by Churchill Downs is not a Kentucky Horse Racing Commission ruling – instead, it is the action of a private entity.

If the KHRC does suspend Baffert's training license, other state racing commissions, including New Jersey's, would reciprocate that action. In that event, however, Drazin said Baffert's long-time assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes would still be welcome to bring horses to Monmouth Park.

This is in direct contrast to the action taken by CDI, which stipulates, “the suspension prohibits Baffert, or any trainer directly or indirectly employed by Bob Baffert Racing Stables, from entering horses in races or applying for stall occupancy at all CDI-owned racetracks.”

Haskell Tickets Go On Sale June 6

Tickets for Monmouth Park's signature event, the $1-million GI TVG.com Haskell S. slated for Saturday, July 17, will go on sale Sunday, June 6 at 11:30 a.m. Once available, tickets can be purchased online at www.seatgeek.com/monmouth or by calling (732) 571-5563. Haskell tickets will also be sold at the Reserved Seats booth on the second floor of the Grandstand on live racing days. Admission on Haskell Day is $20 for the Grandstand and $30 for the Clubhouse. Self parking will be $20. A Dining Club buffet is available for $200, while reservations in the Lady's Secret Cafe (with a pre-fixed menu) are $125. The picnic area buffet will cost $50. Box seats for parties of four, six and eight people are also available in the Clubhouse and Grandstand for Haskell Day. They range from $240 to $640 for a box for eight people in the Clubhouse.Seats in the Grand Mezzanine 1 & 2 are available for $50 and in the Grandstand Mezzanine 3 through 5F for $45. Grandstand Balcony 6 tickets are available for $35, Grandstand Balcony 7 through 9 tickets go for $40 and Grandstand Balcony 10 through 18 seats are $35. All tickets include admission. First post on Haskell day will be 12 noon.

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