Pies Prospect beats Eddington

Pies Prospect became Nick Zito's latest 3-year-old to win a graded stakes as he outdueled Eddington to capture the Grade 3, $300,000 Pegasus Stakes on Friday night at The Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, N.J.

Zito, who also trains Birdstone, The Cliff's Edge, and Sir Shackleton, won the feature Pegasus on opening night of the Big M meeting that runs through Nov. 13.

Pies Prospect ($11.80) was never far off the pace in the 1 1/8-mile race. Eddington, the even-money favorite who has contested most of the major 3-year-old stakes this year, surged into contention with a dramatic four-wide move on the final turn and looked poised to score his first win since February.

Richard Migliore put Eddington into an all-out drive but they could not put away Pies Prospect. Eddington and Pies Prospect bumped at the top of the lane and hooked up in a head-to-head battle through the final furlong with Pies Prospect digging in for the victory by a hard-fought neck.

"He showed a lot of heart," said jockey Edgar Prado. "I am very proud of him. Obviously, the horse to beat was Eddington and we moved together. It was a great battle and everything worked out great."

It was the second Pegasus win for Prado. He took the 1994 edition with Brass Scale.

Migliore accepted much of the blame for Eddington's defeat.

"I decided to take him wide and let him go on the second turn," said Migliore. "I'm kind of second guessing myself for making the move too soon. I thought tonight might be the night he put it all together. He tried, but it was just unfortunate the way it worked out."

Pies Prospect was timed in 1:48.57. Zakocity was third.

Pollard's Vision and Grancentral Pkwy. scratched, reducing the Pegasus field to eight.

* Delta Princess ($6.60) got a ground-saving ride from Heberto Castillo Jr. and squeezed up the fence to win the $60,000 Navajo Princess Stakes for fillies and mares on the turf.

Delta Princess, trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, won by three-quarters of a length over Something Ventured.

* Elusive Thunder ($12.80) set the pace and held off United by a neck to win the $55,000 World Appeal for 2-year-olds on the turf.