Pneumatic debuted going six panels at Oaklawn Feb. 15 with a neck score over next out winner Skol Factor (The Factor) before earning TDN Rising Star status stretching to a mile in optional claiming company at the Hot Springs oval Apr. 11. Tiring to third after prompting the early pace in Churchill's GIII Matt Winn S. May 23, the dark bay finished fourth most recently in the GI Belmont S. June 20.
Installed the 4-5 favorite in this field of eight, Pneumatic sat close to the pace-setting two-for-two Arkaan through fractions of :24.17 and :48.28. Given some encouragement by Joe Bravo entering the final turn, the colt surged to the front with a quarter mile to go, kicked for home in complete command and was never seriously threatened by the rallying Jesus' Team. It was another 2 3/4 lengths back in third to a tiring Arkaan.
“I talked to [trainer] Steve [Asmussen] and his assistant Scott Blasi this morning and they were really excited about the horse,” Bravo said. “But you never really know until you sit on them. He was just in full control the whole time. A very relaxed animal– he was going very smoothly.”
Sitting at No. 22 on the GI Kentucky Derby points list entering the Pegasus, Pneumatic picked up 20 additional points with his TVG.com Pegasus victory.
“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,” Bravo said.
Pneumatic is the first foal to race from his stakes-placed dam, a full-sister to GSW War Echo–dam of French Group 3 winner Munitions (War Front)–and SW & G1SP Farrier; and a half to GISW Pyro (Pulpit) and his MSW/MGSP full-brother Longview Drive. Third dam Carol's Wonder was a half-sister to Verne Winchell's Olympio (Naskra) and Call Now (Wild Again) and was herself responsible for MGSW Wild Wonder (Wild Again). Teardrop has a 2-year-old filly by Candy Ride (Arg) named Drop Off and yearling and weanling colts by Gun Runner. She was bred back to Copper Bullet.
TVG.COM PEGASUS S., $155,000, Monmouth, 8-15, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:44.76, ft.
1–PNEUMATIC, 119, c, 3, by Uncle Mo
1st Dam: Teardrop (SP), by Tapit
2nd Dam: Wild Vision, by Wild Again
3rd Dam: Carol's Wonder, by Pass the Tab
TDN Rising Star 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen; J-Joe Bravo. $90,000. Lifetime Record: GSP, 5-3-0-1, $256,850.
2–Jesus' Team, 119, c, 3, Tapiture–Golden Memories, by Suave. ($30,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Grupo 7C Racing Stable; B-Pamela P. Gartin (KY); T-Jose Francisco D'Angelo. $30,000.
3–Arkaan, 119, c, 3, Into Mischief–Stormy Rhapsody, by Unbridled's Song. ($320,000 Wlg '17 KEENOV; $450,000 Ylg '18 KEESEP). O-Shadwell Stable; B-Fred W. Hertrich III & John D. Fielding (KY); T-Michael V. Pino. $15,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 2 3/4, 8. Odds: 0.80, 4.10, 4.20.
Also Ran: Super John, Wartime Hero, Big City Bob, Skyscanner, As Seen On Tv.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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