Wednesday, October 22, 2008

ZITO TRIO HEADS FIELD FOR PEGASUS STAKES

The Nick Zito-trained trio of Da'Tara, Truth Rules and Coal Play tops the field for the $200,000 Grade 3 Pegasus Stakes on Friday night at the Meadowlands.

Set at 1 1-8 miles on the dirt, the Pegasus is carded as race eight with an estimated 10:08 p.m. post time.

Da'Tara has yet to find the winner's circle since pulling off the monumental upset in the 2008 Belmont, in which Big Brown was eased in the stretch. After a solid fifth-place finish in the Travers (G1), he failed to fire in his last start, the Jerome Handicap (G2) on Oct. 5 at Belmont. Da'Tara will break from post six in the Pegasus with Joe Bravo listed to ride.


Late bloomer Truth Rules upset Atoned in the $150,000 Long Branch, his stakes debut July 12 at Monmouth Park, but a fever kept him out of the Haskell. Zito sent Coal Play in his place and the colt put on a game performance, leading the field into the stretch before giving way to Big Brown. Coal Play built on that effort with a 7 1-2-length romp in the Majestic Prince Stakes on closing day of the Monmouth meet. Coal Play will break from post two with Bravo listed to ride, while Truth Rules will start from post eight with Carlos Marquez Jr.

The Pegasus field also includes West Virginia Derby winner Ready Set, who will start from post four for trainer Michael Matz and jockey Rajiv Maragh.

In addition to the racing action Friday, the Meadowlands will give away $2,000 in free gas. Twenty lucky fans will win a $100 gift card and be entered into a grand prize drawing set for Friday, Nov. 14. The grand prize drawing will give away $5,000, $3,000 and $1,000 gas cards.

Post Horse Name Weight Jockey Name
1 Stones River 121 Gabriel Saez
2 Coal Play 121 Joe Bravo
3 Cave's Valley 119 Julian Pimentel
4 Ready Set 123 Rajiv Maragh
5 Pluracity 119 Roberto Alvarado, Jr.
6 Da' Tara 123 Joe Bravo
7 Atoned 119 Christopher P. DeCarlo
8 Truth Rules 123 Carlos H. Marquez, Jr.
9 You and I Forever 119 Channing Hill
10 Premium Gold 121 Eddie Castro
11 Storm Play 119 Michael J. Luzzi

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