The NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park serves as a key prep race for the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes, offering a $150,000 purse and a free entry to the top two finishers for the July 19 Haskell Invitational. This 1 1/16-mile dirt showdown features elite three-year-olds, many of whom are looking to establish themselves as contenders for summer’s biggest stakes races.
Race Details
Event: NYRA Bets Pegasus Stakes
Date: Saturday, June 14, 2025
Time: 3:53 PM ET
Venue: Monmouth Park, Oceanport, NJ
Surface: Dirt (1 1/16 miles)
Purse: $150,000
TV Broadcast: TVG, Fox Sports, NYRA Bets
Top Contenders & Horse Profiles
1. Kentucky Outlaw (Trainer: Felissa Dunn | Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche)
Pedigree: Outwork – Fend (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 3 wins from 4 starts
Recent Performance: Winner of Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park
Strengths: Proven Monmouth form with tactical speed
Concerns: Facing tougher competition in stakes debut
2. Barbadian Runner (Trainer: Henry Walters | Jockey: TBD)
Pedigree: Barbados – Quiet Run (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 4 stakes wins in 2025
Recent Performance: Winner of Jersey Derby at Monmouth Park
Strengths: Versatile runner with strong closing ability
Concerns: Adjusting to longer distance
3. Garamond (Trainer: Chad Brown | Jockey: Flavien Prat)
Pedigree: Uncle Mo – Blue Watch (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: Third in Grade 3 Gotham Stakes
Recent Performance: Winner of Aqueduct allowance race
Strengths: Speed figures suggest dominance
Concerns: First attempt at two turns
4. Valentinian (Trainer: Todd Pletcher | Jockey: John Velazquez)
Pedigree: Into Mischief – Rachel’s Valentina (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 1 win from 3 starts
Recent Performance: Fourth in Churchill Downs allowance race
Strengths: Elite pedigree with stamina potential
Concerns: Needs a breakthrough performance
5. Bracket Buster (Trainer: Victoria Oliver | Jockey: Axel Concepcion)
Pedigree: Vekoma – Spring Dance (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: Second in Grade 3 Lexington Stakes
Recent Performance: Seventh in Churchill Downs allowance race
Strengths: Proven stakes performer
Concerns: Struggled in last outing
6. Wildncrazynight (Trainer: Dan Ward | Jockey: Isaac Castillo)
Pedigree: Midnight Lute – Proud to Be Wild (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 1 win from 3 starts
Recent Performance: Allowance winner at Monmouth Park
Strengths: Speedy front-runner with dirt adaptability
Concerns: Adjusting to stakes-level competition
7. Just a Fair Shake (Trainer: Daniel McKenzie | Jockey: Jaime Rodriguez)
Pedigree: Laoban – Ladymidtown (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: 1 win from 4 starts
Recent Performance: Allowance winner at Aqueduct
Strengths: Late bloomer with untapped potential
Concerns: Facing seasoned competition in first stakes attempt
8. National Law (Trainer: Jorge Duarte Jr. | Jockey: TBD)
Pedigree: Constitution – Susie’s Baby (Equineline Reports)
Career Record: Two-race win streak
Recent Performance: Allowance winner at Pimlico
Strengths: Improving form post-throat surgery
Concerns: Needs to prove consistency at graded level
Race Strategy & Betting Insights
Pace Projection: Kentucky Outlaw and Garamond likely to press early, while Barbadian Runner and National Law close late.
Key Matchups: Garamond vs. Kentucky Outlaw in the stretch battle.
Dark Horse: National Law could surprise with a breakout performance.
