Photo: Hollywood Park
More
distance proved no problem for Premier Pegasus as he remained undefeated with a
gate-to-wire victory in the $100,000 Hollywood Prevue Stakes Saturday at Hollywood Park.
Winning
for the third time for owner, breeder and trainer Myung Kwon Cho, the 2-year-old
Fusaichi Pegaus colt out of the Summer Squall mare Squall Linda handled the
stretch to seven furlongs with aplomb.
The
first graded win for Premier Pegasus, the 2-1 second choice in a field of six,
followed a victory at six furlongs in the Jack Goodman Stakes Oct. 23. The
Goodman score during the Oak Tree/Hollywood Park meet came three months after
his 44-1 debut shocker going 5 ½ furlongs at Del Mar.
Breaking
alertly under jockey Alonso Quinonez, Premier Pegasus received mild pressure to
his outside from 11-1 shot Awesome Patriot, disposed of that rival early in the
stretch and went on to win by 1 ½ lengths.
Industry
Leader, the 2-1 third choice, finished second, one length in front of Awesome
Patriot. Contemplated, High Level Jeff, the 19-10 favorite making his first
start outside Florida
for new trainer Doug O’Neill, and Northern Indy completed the order of finish.
Premier
Pegasus ran the distance in the Grade III in 1:22.78. He paid $6, $3.60 and
$2.80 while boosting his bankroll to $125,400. Industry Leader returned $3.40
and $2.80. Awesome Patriot paid $3.60 to show.
Cho
said Premier Pegasus could return in the $750,000-guaranteed CashCall Futurity
Dec. 18. A Grade I, the Futurity is run at 1 1/16 miles over Cushion Track. The
last Prevue winner to repeat in the Futurity was Declan Moon in 2004.
“I
have two possibilities for the ($750,000-guranteed CashCall) Futurity (Dec.
18), this colt and Riveting Reason,’’ said Cho. “It would be a dream to win
that race. I’m not certain yet what I’m going to do. We’re eventually looking
at the turf with this horse.’’
Quinonez
was one of three riders with more than one win Saturday. He and Corey Nakatani
had a pair while Rafael Bejarano won three times.