Monmouth: Tuscan Sky romps in Pegasus, key prep for Haskell

Oceanport, N. J.

Looking at the past performances for the $150,000 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park, the front end looked like the place to be. The jockeys in the field of six clearly had that figured out as there were five horses across the track for the first half-mile. Ultimately, it was Tuscan Sky who survived the battle for the lead and drew off to win by 6 3/4 lengths.

Tuscan Sky, who was ridden by Javier Castellano for the first time, had the advantage in that he came out of the gate alertly from post position 1. Tuscan Sky was second by a head in that group of five who contended for the lead.

The Todd Pletcher trainee was able to get out front by a head after the half-mile and then extended the lead to three-quarter lengths at the six-furlong mark as the fractions were 23.45 and 46.94 seconds and 1:11.38.

“I think getting the rail trip was the key to winning the race,” Castellano explained. “We had the inside post and held it. I tried to break out of the gate and get a good position. In the first turn I saw four or five horses going for the lead and I think the key for us was saving the ground. I kept the position because I didn’t want to be buried behind horses and I took advantage of being on the rail. We were lucky to be in the right place to win the race.

Five of the six horses made an appearance on the 2024 Kentucky Derby trail and Domestic Product finished 13th in the Run for the Roses.

As Tuscan Sky secured the lead, it was Domestic Product that was able to get into the second position and those two pulled away from the rest of the field.

All Todd [trainer Pletcher] told me was to get position and save ground,” Castellano added. “That’s what I was able to do. I think this horse deserves a shot in the Haskell the way he won this race. The pace was quick and he was chasing and still finished good. That’s a good sign going forward.”

Tuscan Sky was making the fourth start of his career having won his first two races by a combined margin of more than seven lengths and then finished seventh in the Wood Memorial. He was sent off as the third betting choice in the Pegasus at 2.40-1 and paid $6.80, 3.40 and 2.40 for a $2 win, place and show wager. At 2.30-1 Domestic Sky finished 4 ¼-lengths ahead of the 4.70-1 Hades. The $2 exacta returned $25.20 while the $2 trifecta produced a payoff of $70.20.

Along with their shares of the purse money, Tuscan Sky and Domestic Product received free entries into the Grade 1, $1 million Haskell Stakes at the Jersey Shore track on July 20.

“Todd hasn’t said anything about plans going forward,” Anthony Sciametta, assistant to Todd Pletcher said. “The horse just got here (from Kentucky) a couple of days ago so. I think he wanted to see how he ran here first. I’m sure he will discuss the Haskell with the owners and go from there.”