2024 Pegasus Stakes Contenders at Monmouth Park

Top two finishers in Pegasus Stakes earn free entry and fees to the $1M Haskell Stakes

Grade 3 winners Domestic Product, Uncle Heavy and Hades, along with talented Jersey-bred Sea Streak, are among eight 3-year olds entered for the Pegasus Stakes during the Haskell Stakes Preview Day at Monmouth Park on Saturday, June 15.

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.

Trainer Orseno Expecting Big Effort From Hades In Pegasus Stakes

After a promising start to Hades' career, followed by a disappointing spring, trainer Joe Orseno is convinced that the 3-year-old gelding will again live up to the lofty expectations he has for him in the Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park on Saturday, June 15.

The Pegasus Stakes, the final local prep for the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 20, is one of four stakes on Haskell Preview Day, with the 12-race card also featuring the Grade 3 Eatontown Stakes, the Grade 3 Monmouth Stakes and the Grade 3 Salvator Mile.

The Pegasus, which drew a field of eight 3-year-olds, offers the added inducement of free start fees and entry to the top two finishers for the $1 million Haskell Stakes.

That's Orseno's goal for the Florida-bred son of Awesome Again.

"We were thinking something special with him early in his career and we're back to thinking something special," said Orseno. "I believe that this horse is as real a 3-year-old as I have had in quite a while."

After winning his first three starts, highlighted by a two-length score in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes, Hades faltered in the Grade 1 Florida Derby, finishing fifth. Orseno wheeled Hades back two weeks later in the Grade 3 Lexington Stakes, but the veteran conditioner excused the seventh-place finish that day to an issue he did not specify.

"After the Lexington Stakes we found that he had a minor issue that was easily correctible," said Orseno. "So we gave him a little time off and worked on him. We believe we have him where we want him again. I'm pretty excited about seeing him race again.

"We're hoping this is a good prep for the Haskell."

Hades has not raced since the Lexington Stakes on April 13 but his work tab suggests the horse is eager to go. Stabled at Monmouth Park, Hades' four furlong-work on June 2 was the best of 139 horses at that distance.

Paco Lopez, Monmouth Park's leading rider, has the mount.

"I open galloped him a mile last Sunday," said Orseno. "He did exactly what we wanted. He went the mile in 1:46. It was perfect. He's ready."

Following the Lexington Stakes, Orseno said he "decided to pass up the Triple Crown races and work on the second half of the year."

"We're excited where he is now," he added. "He's training fantastic. Our plan was to bring him to Monmouth Park to train and the Haskell was our summer goal. I don't have anything mapped out after that."

Owned by D J Stable and Robert Cotran, Hades figures to face stiff challenges from Grade 3 Tampa Bay Derby winner Domestic Product and Grade 3 Withers winner Uncle Heavy. New Jersey-bred Sea Streak also looms as a threat following his 7¼-length romp in the Long Branch Stakes on May 11 at Monmouth Park.

All four stakes races on the card carry a purse of $150,000.

First race post time is 12:50, with the four stakes races comprising the final four races on the card.

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