Pneumatic punches ticket to Kentucky Derby with Pegasus victory

After chasing some of the 3-year-old division's standouts in his two prior starts, Pneumatic found a spot to get the spotlight to himself on Saturday. The colt coasted to a 2 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, earning a spot in the Kentucky Derby should his connections desire.

The Pegasus was the final race awarding qualifying points toward a spot in the 20-horse starting gate for the postponed Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby. The 20 points Pneumatic earned for his victory gave him a total of 45, putting him solidly in 11th on the leaderboard. The colt was a late nominee to the Triple Crown series for owner-breeder Winchell Thoroughbreds and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Pegasus runner-up Jesus' Team, previously fourth in the Grade 1 Haskell Invitational at Monmouth, earned eight points and now has a total of 18. He officially sits on the bubble of the points list at No. 21. However, several currently ranked above him are not certain to start in the Derby. Jesus' Team was not made a Triple Crown nominee at either the early or late nomination stakes, and would have to be supplemented for $45,000 at entry time. All points accrued are honored once nominated.

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Pneumatic, a son of young classic sire Uncle Mo, won the first two starts of his career earlier this year at Oaklawn Park. He then finished third in his stakes debut, the Grade 3 Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs, beaten less than two lengths by unbeaten Grade 1 winner Maxfield -- who has since been sidelined -- with consistent divisional player Ny Traffic in second. Pneumatic was then beaten 7 3/4 lengths by divisional leader Tiz the Law in the June 20 Belmont Stakes while also checking in behind Dr Post and Max Player.

In the Pegasus, Pneumatic ($3.60) was sent away favored under Joe Bravo, and stalked the pace set by Arkaan, who was stretching out around two turns for the first time. Pneumatic made his bid on the far turn and easily took command. He opened up three lengths in the stretch, and the outcome was never seriously in doubt from there as he coasted to the wire.

“I talked to Steve and his assistant Scott Blasi this morning and they were really excited about the horse, but you never really know until you sit on them," Bravo, who was winning the Pegasus for the third straight year and fifth time overall, told Monmouth publicity. "He was just in full control the whole time. A very relaxed animal -- he was going very smoothly. I give credit to the other two horses for hanging with him for second and third because we kicked so solidly turning for home and I looked and I said, 'Okay, they’ve stayed with us for a little bit.' I don’t know what their plans are going forward with this horse, but I’d like to say he did this very effortlessly and well within himself."

The final time for the 1 1/16 miles on the fast track was 1:44.76.

Jesus' Team, who had been stalking the pace behind the eventual winner, came wide into the stretch and finished well to be second, 2 3/4 lengths clear of Arkaan in third. The latter was trying stakes company for the first time off two wins to start his career.