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) at almost 27-1, earning a field-best 101 Beyer Speed Figure.
TODAY’S GRADED STAKES
7:06a Stockholm Stora Pris-G3, BRO
9:50a Sparkasse KolnBonn Union-Rennen-G2, COL
4:50p TVG.com Pegasus S., MTH
8:56p Affirmed S.-GIII, SA
CLASSIER RETURNS IN AFFIRMED
Classier (Empire Maker) kicks off his sophomore season versus four rivals in Sunday's GIII Affirmed S. at Santa Anita.
The $775,000 KEESEP graduate got the 'TDN Rising Star' nod on debut sprinting at Santa Anita Oct. 24, then returned on quick notice with an eighth-place finish after showing speed in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last time Nov. 6. Working bullets for his return, Bob Baffert takes the blinkers off for this.
The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) tackles two turns for the first time here. The Cal-bred was impressive in his last two, capturing the Echo Eddie S. Apr. 3 and GIII Lazaro Barrera S. May 15 with a pair of 90 Beyer Speed Figures.
