Premier Pegasus Serves Notice in San Felipe

Premier Pegasus jumped to the head of the West Coast Kentucky Derby class with a romping 7-3/4 length score in Saturday's San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita Park.

Albergatti and an overbet Runflatout broke the gate running and set taxing fractions of :21.75 and :44.58. Comma To The Top sat just off the two leaders and briefly took command after six furlongs in 1:08.98.

The new leader figured to be in trouble because of the taxing pace and Premier Pegasus burst out of the pack and hit the front turning for home under Alonso Quinonez. The race was over in the blink of an eye and he completed his eight and one-half furlong journey in 1:41.23. He paid a generous $16.60.

Jaycito rallied from the back to land the place with Bench Points checking in 3rd. Comma To The Top rounded out the superfecta. Quail Hill passed tired horses to finish 5th and was followed by Awesome Patriot, Surrey Star, Jakesam, Albergatti, and Runflatout.

The winner, owned, bred, and trained by Myung Kwon Cho, won all three of his 2010 starts including the Hollywood Prevue (G3). He began his 3-year-old season with a solid show finish in the seven furlong San Vicente (G2) and is now the clear favorite for the Santa Anita Derby following his romping victory on Saturday.

Premier Pegasus, by Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus, also has classic breeding on the female side with Preakness winning dam sire Summer Squall. He is not one of the individual betting interests in pool two of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager.