Mandaloun all set for the Pegasus
Brad Cox, still basking in the glow of winning his first Triple Crown race June 5, when Essential Quality captured the Belmont Stakes, has plenty more 3-year-old firepower in his stable. Fulsome, Warrant, and Gagetown all recently won stakes races in the Midwest, and on Thursday night, Cox will load Mandaloun on a van and send him from Churchill Downs to race Sunday at Monmouth in the Pegasus Stakes.
Mandaloun finished second in the Kentucky Derby and stands to be placed first if victorious Medina Spirit is disqualified because of medication violation. Nonetheless, Cox held Mandaloun out of further Triple Crown participation, saying a few days after the Derby that the Grade 1 Haskell at Monmouth was Mandaloun’s next major goal. Cox wanted ample time before running Mandaloun back after the Derby, thus passing on the Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill, and circled the Pegasus as the best prep. Regular rider Florent Geroux has the mount in a race that will be drawn Wednesday.
Mandaloun has worked four times since the Derby, going solo in all the drills, including a five-furlong move in 59.40 on June 6 at Churchill.
“No company since the Derby,” Cox said. “He seems to be training well enough on his own that we didn’t feel like he needed it.”
◗ Friday’s six-race card has a first post of 5 p.m. Eastern.