Home Brew takes big step forward with solid victory in Pegasus
Trainer Brad Cox already had Cyberknife, winner of the Arkansas Derby in April and the Matt Winn Stakes earlier this month at Churchill Downs, aimed at the $1 million Haskell Invitational on July 23 at Monmouth Park. Now, that race is one of a few that will come under consideration for Home Brew, whom Cox sent from Churchill to Monmouth for a sharp victory in the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes on Saturday.
Home Brew, getting a perfect trip under late replacement rider Paco Lopez, switched outside the two pacesetters before the quarter pole in the Pegasus and ran past the pair like they’d been sipping beer all afternoon in the hot sun. Even after Lopez geared down Home Brew the final 100 yards, the colt still won by 6 1/2 lengths, and his raw time of 1:43.20 for 1 1/16 miles produced a 97 Beyer Speed Figure. That easily exceeded Home Brew’s previous top, an 84 for his Oaklawn Stakes win on April 23, and is three points higher than the career-best 94 Cyberknife earned in the Matt Winn.
Fair to say Cox didn’t exactly see this sort of performance coming. Home Brew, a Gary and Mary West homebred by Street Sense, had improved after being stretched to two turns earlier this year. Saturday’s showing was a serious move forward.
“It was a big run,” said Cox, reached by phone Saturday evening. “He’s average enough training. I wouldn’t say he’d be super flashy or a great work horse but he’s steady enough. Since we got him around two turns, he’s been better. He did pick it up this spring.”
Home Brew was to ship back to Kentucky on Sunday, after which specific plans will be set for his next start. The July 9 Indiana Derby likely comes up too quickly, Cox said. The Jim Dandy on July 30 at Saratoga also could be considered.
Florent Geroux had been scheduled to ride Home Brew but had his trip to Monmouth disrupted and was forced to abandon the mount Saturday afternoon.