Tuscan Sky (Vino Rosso), who had finished a disappointing seventh as the 5-2 second choice in the GII Wood Memorial S. when last seen Apr. 6, restored his reputation by prevailing in a prolonged five-way battle for the lead and kicking well clear from a quintet of accomplished 3-year old rivals in the NYRA Bets Pegasus S.
Running with the addition of blinkers for his fourth career start, the grey broke well under Javier Castellano and dueled for the lead through fractions of :23.35, :46.94 and 1:11.38. Turning for home, the 2-1 third choice responded generously to Castellano's cue and pulled away from GIII Tampa Derby winner Domestic Product (Practical Joke)'s steady bid to register a 6 3/4-length triumph. Hades (Awesome Slew) maintained his third position the way around.
Castellano said, “I think getting the rail trip was the key to winning the race. We had the inside post and held it. The blinkers helped a lot keeping him forward. All Todd told me was to get position and save ground. I think this horse deserves a shot in the [GI] 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.”
South Andros, the dam of Tuscan Sky, won the 2014 Justakiss S. at Delaware Park. She also produced the colt Private Creed, winner of the GII Exacta Systems Franklin-Simpson S. last September at Kentucky Downs as a 3-year-old. Private Creed had finished third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint in 2022. South Andros has an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Complexity, a yearling full-brother to Private Creed and recently produced a Jackie's Warrior filly. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#1 TUSCAN SKY ($6.80) sprouts wings in the stretch, running away to an impressive victory in Monmouth's $150,000 Pegasus Stakes!
This is the first stakes win for the lightly-raced @PletcherRacing trainee, who was ridden by @jjcjockey for @spendthriftfarm. pic.twitter.com/ED6GVMcpDU
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) June 15, 2024
NYRA BETS PEGASUS S., $150,000, Monmouth, 6-15, 3yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.31, ft.
1–TUSCAN SKY, 118, c, 3, by Vino Rosso
1st Dam: South Andros (SW, $207,125), by Sky Mesa
2nd Dam: Misty Rain, by Rubiano
3rd Dam: Vigorous Search, by Vigors
($200,000 Ylg '22 FTKJUL). 1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O-Spendthrift Farm LLC; B-Sierra Farm (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-Javier Castellano. $90,000. Lifetime Record: 4-3-0-0, $190,500. *1/2 to Private Creed (Jimmy Creed), GSW & GISP, $1,329,166.
2--Domestic Product, 122, c, 3, Practical Joke–Goods and Services, by Paynter. O/B-Klaravich Stables (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $30,000.
3–Hades, 122, g, 3, Awesome Slew–The Shady Lady, by Quality Road. ($130,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-D. J. Stable LLC and Cotran, Robert; B-Ocala Stud, Joseph O'Farrell III, David O'Farrell, et al. (FL); T-Joseph F. Orseno. $15,000.
Margins: 6 3/4, 4 1/4, 3/4. Odds: 2.40, 2.30, 4.70.
Also Ran: Willy D's, Sea Streak, Otello. Scratched: Just Step On It, Uncle Heavy.
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