Kentucky Derby Also-Ran Kingsbarns Returns in Pegasus

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Photo: Anika Miskar
Kingsbarn trains May 3 at Churchill Downs

Spendthrift Farm's Louisiana Derby (G2) winner and Kentucky Derby (G1) entrant Kingsbarns  heads a field of eight 3-year-olds for the June 17 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park—one of four stakes on Haskell Preview Day.

The $150,000 Pegasus Stakes, at 1 1/16 miles, serves as the local prep for the $1 million Haskell Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles July 22.

The Todd Pletcher-trained Kingsbarns is coming off a distant 14th in the Kentucky Derby, his only defeat in four career starts. Pletcher has the son of Uncle Mo   cutting back in distance. After extending the length Kingsbarns has run through his first four races, Pletcher will allow him to take a step back from 1 1/4 miles. 

Out of the Tapit   mare Lady Tapit , Kingsbarns may look to get out front early. He was at or near the lead through the first mile in the Run for the Roses, but contact in the stretch with Raise Cain , as well as his own fatigue as part of a hot pace, proved to be his downfall. In his three victories, Kingsbarns raced near the lead from start to finish. He should be prominent in the Pegasus under jockey Luis Saez.

This is also Kingsbarns' return to action after missing the June 10 Belmont Stakes (G1) due to signs of colic last month. Pletcher said at the time that they were "knocked off course" by the diagnosis. Now, the colt is ready to return to action. 

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Pletcher has one other runner in the Pegasus, Classic Catch . By Classic Empire  , Classic Catch does not have the reputation of his stablemate but he has faced graded stakes competition, such as Belmont Stakes victor Arcangelo , Hit Show , and Lord Miles  while running in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) and the Peter Pan Stakes (G3). He has yet to finish in the top three in a stakes, but his experience may help him achieve that goal. 

Only two other entrants have faced stakes competition. Among them is Long Branch Stakes winner Howgreatisnate , a Speightster  colt who has won five of seven starts. No Confession  was sixth in the Long Branch and first in the Rittenhouse Square Stakes at Parx Racing prior to that.

Completing the field are Alternate Reality , Moreau , Salute the Stars , and the promising Subrogate , who steps up into stakes company after a fast maiden win at Belmont Park.

"The way the game has been lately, it's not a big deal anymore to try something like this with a lightly raced horse," said Subrogate's trainer, Jorge Duarte Jr. "We've seen a lot of horses with just a few starts run big in major stakes races. Look at Mage . He won the Kentucky Derby in his fourth start.

"The game has completely changed. Back in the day you had to run a lot before you tried a major stakes race. We know this horse has talent. So we might as well take a shot and see where he's at."


Entries: Pegasus S.

Monmouth Park, Saturday, June 17, 2023, Race 10

  • STK
  • 1 1/16m
  • Dirt
  • $150,000
  • 3 yo
  • 4:44 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer M/L
1 1Classic Catch (KY) Paco Lopez 116 Todd A. Pletcher 3/1
2 2Moreau (KY) Florent Geroux 116 Andrew McKeever 8/1
3 3No Confession (KY) Pedro L. Cotto, Jr. 122 John P. Mc Allen 30/1
4 4Salute the Stars (KY) Joel Rosario 120 Brad H. Cox 9/2
5 5Alternate Reality (KY) Jacqueline A. Davis 118 Chris J. Englehart 12/1
6 6Subrogate (KY) Jevian Toledo 116 Jorge Duarte, Jr. 5/1
7 7Howgreatisnate (KY) Jairo Rendon 122 Elizabeth L. Dobles 6/1
8 8Kingsbarns (KY) Luis Saez 122 Todd A. Pletcher 8/5