NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes draws field of eight 3-year-olds for Saturday’s Haskell Preview Day

By Tom Luicci —-

EIGHT 3-YEAR-OLDS ENTERED FOR NYRA BETS PEGASUS STAKES

OCEANPORT, N.J. – Grade 3 winners Hades, Uncle Heavy and Domestic Product, along with talented Jersey-bred Sea Streak, were among eight 3-year olds entered today for the NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes during Saturday’s NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes Preview Day at Monmouth Park.

The Pegasus Stakes serves as the final local prep for the $1 Million, Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 20.

Saturday’s card includes a trio of Grade 3 stakes – the Eatontown Stakes, the Monmouth Stakes and the Salvator Mile. All four stakes races on the 12-race card carry a purse of $150,000 each.

The top two finishers in the 43rd edition of the Pegasus Stakes also earn free entry and start fees to the Haskell Stakes.

Hades, trained by Joe Orseno, won the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream before faltering in the Florida Derby and Lexington Stakes. Uncle Heavy won the Grade 3 Withers before finishing fifth in the Wood Memorial and eighth in the Preakness Stakes.

The Chad Brown-trained Domestic Product captured the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby before finishing 13th in the Kentucky Derby in his most recent start.

Sea Streak, meanwhile, is already assured of a spot in the Haskell Stakes from his 7¼-length romp in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park on May 11.

Tuscan Sky, Just Step On It, Otello and Willy D’s round out the field for the mile and a sixteenth Pegasus Stakes.

The Eatontown Stakes attracted a field of 10 fillies and mares, 3 and up, for the mile and a sixteenth turf event that carries the added bonus of free start fees and entry for the winner to the $300,000 Grade 3 WinStar Matchmaker Stakes on the Haskell undercard.

The Eatontown Stakes field from the rail out: Sacred Wish, Embrace Me, Thirty Thou Kelvin, No Show Sammy Jo, Damaso, Spirit and Glory, Tax Implications, Ocean Club, Maman Joon and Tic Tic Tic Boom.

The Monmouth Stakes, to be contested at a mile and an eighth for 3 year olds and up on the grass, offers the extra incentive of free entry and start fees for the top two finishers for the $600,000, Grade 2 United Nations Stakes on the Haskell undercard.

The Monmouth Stakes field from the rail out: California Frolic, Beatbox, Public Sector, Grand Sonata, Siege of Boston, Adhamo, Fort Washington, Tawny Port and Running Bee.

The Salvator Mile, for 3-year-olds and up, drew a field of eight. The winner receives free entry and start fees to the Grade 3, $400,000 Monmouth Cup on the Haskell undercard.

The field for the 77th edition of the Salvator Mile from the rail out: Sherlock’s Jewel, Bright Future, Artorius, Shirl’s Speight, Oscar Eclipse, Movisitor, Stage Raider and Coastal Mission.

The first 4,500 paid admissions on Saturday will receive a coupon that can be redeemed for a Haskell hat beach towel.

First race post time is 12:50 p.m.