Pegasus Stakes (Monmouth Park) Predictions & Betting Odds

With a Kentucky Derby victory still for the courts to decide, Mandaloun will make his first start since his big effort on the first Saturday in May as he headlines a field of five-set for Sunday’s $150,000 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park.

The likely heavy favorite for the local prep for the $1 million Haskell Stakes next month, Mandaloun is the winner of the Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes three starts back. The Juddmonte Farm homebred ran a game second behind Medina Spirit in the Derby, but with the disqualification of the winner looming, he could be declared the official winner soon. A winner of 3-of-6 so far, he is trained by Brad Cox and will be ridden once again by Florent Geroux

Chief among Mandaloun’s competition will be the lightly raced Dr. Jack. From the powerhouse barn of Todd Pletcher, the son Pioneer of the Nile has only made it to the starting gate twice so far in his career, but he has made the most of his opportunities with facile scores in a Gulfstream Park maiden special weight and a Pimlico allowance race.

Another who should get plenty of support at the windows is Weyburn. Bred in Canada, and also a son of Pioneer of the Nile, the good-looking bay outran his odds when upsetting the Grade 3 Gotham field two starts back. Last out, he faded a bit, but was not embarrassed when fourth in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial.

Brooklyn Strong and Lugamo round out the field of five for the 1 1/16-mile test at Monmouth.

How to Watch the Pegasus Stakes

Race Analysis

Mandaloun

Mandaloun is set to make his first start since the Kentucky Derby in Sunday’s https://t.co/nBYFHiOTnJ Pegasus Stakes @MonmouthPark!

Tune-in this weekend for live on-site coverage from the Jersey Shore & read more on his return on TVG news: https://t.co/D9rrg0sp3S pic.twitter.com/3rzvmkjFPl

— TVG (@TVG) June 11, 2021

After a puzzling no-show in the $1 million Louisiana Derby, this consistent son of Into Mischief went right back to work, and barring an unfavorable decision in the courts, he will end up being declared the official winner of this year’s Kentucky Derby. As good as he looks on paper on Sunday, though, there could be a couple of warning signs.

First off, this race is only prep for the bigger test of next month’s Grade 1 Haskell Stakes. Also, while his good tactical speed puts him in every race, coming out of the 10 furlongs Derby, there is a chance he falls a little farther behind early than he prefers. Still, his class stands out in this field, and anything near his best will result in a victory.  He is strictly the one to beat, and the odds will more than reflect that. In his first race since a tough one in the 10 furlongs Kentucky Derby, I am willing to take a small shot to beat him.

Dr Jack

This well-bred newcomer from the Pletcher barn has done everything right so far, winning a sprint at Gulfstream in April, before stretching out successfully on Preakness weekend. It looks like he has the potential to be a good one. He will need to prove it as this looks like a tough little spot only two months removed from his career debut. He’s got tactical speed, so look for him to be in the striking distance early. The question then becomes if has the talent and maturity to stick with a horse like Mandaloun. He just might, but as the second choice, I am going to go with a wait-and-see strategy on him.

Weyburn

After not doing a whole lot in a salty maiden race at Belmont Park in his career debut last fall, this one has proven to be a tough customer in four subsequent starts. Each race was at Aqueduct, and over their deep strip, this Jimmy Jerkens-trainee pressured the early pace each time and demonstrated some real bravery down the lane.

While the Grade 3 Gotham win stands out — defeating a pair of highly regarded Chad Brown runners in Highly Motivated and Crowded Trade — I really liked the toughness he showed in the maiden win before, and the fourth-place finish in the Wood Memorial. While a fourth may not sound great, he fought on for much of the race on a less than ideal part of the track in a race eventually dominated by closers. With some space in between races, I expect him to come back at his best in this small field. He is my upset pick.

Brooklyn Strong

The winner of 3-of-4 as a juvenile, this son of Wicked Strong has had things tough so far in 2021. His only two starts of the year came in the Wood Memorial and the Kentucky Derby. He did not enjoy the best of trips either day, and not surprisingly, was not a real factor in either. He might finally have a bit easier task and better pace set-up in here, but still, he will need to come back with an improved effort to make serious noise. He is not out of it, but others are more likely to win.

Lugamo

The longshot of the field has not raced since finishing way back in the UAE Derby overseas in March. It’s hard to know what to expect in his first race since the long trip, but even at his best, he looks to be up against it with this field. If he does return to the races sharp, he should be able to add to the early pace, but as for sticking around down the stretch, I am hard-pressed to see a really big effort forthcoming.