Mandaloun points to Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth for next start

Mandaloun, second to Medina Spirit in the Kentucky Derby, will kick off the second half of his 3-year-old season in the $150,000 TVG.com Pegasus Stakes on June 13 at Monmouth Park, trainer Brad Cox said Sunday.

The Pegasus, run at 1 1/16 miles, is the local prep for the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Invitational at Monmouth on July 17.

Cox said he and the principles of Juddmonte Farms, which owns Mandaloun, chose the Pegasus over races such as the Grade 3 Matt Winn this Saturday at Churchill Downs and the Grade 1 Woody Stephens at Belmont Park on June 5.

“The timing of the Pegasus made a lot of sense, being six weeks after the Derby where he ran extremely hard, was up close to a hot pace,” Cox said. “Hopefully, it’s a step towards the Haskell.”

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While Mandaloun is currently the second-place finisher in the Kentucky Derby, he could be declared the winner if a split sample confirms the presence of the corticosteroid Betamethasone in the initial post-race sample of Medina Spirit. It is unclear when the results of that split sample will be released.

Cox said Florent Geroux is expected to ride Mandaloun in the Pegasus.

The Monmouth meet is shrouded in controversy given that very restrictive whip rules for jockeys are expected to be in place when the meet opens Friday. Jockeys will be able to carry a whip, but may use it only if there is a safety issue.

“I guess you got to look at it as everyone’s in the same boat, right?” Cox said. “It's kind of like no Lasix. I’m okay with no Lasix, as long as everybody’s no Lasix.”

Mandaloun has worked twice since the Derby, going a half-mile in 48.20 seconds both on May 15 and again Saturday.