Pegasus takes wing in Clement Hirsch

Late on the backstretch, Falcon Rock (Ire) (Hawk Wing) advanced from midpack

to press the leader, but Marlang forged clear again on the far turn. Still in

command through the mile in 1:37 4/5, Marlang stuck to his guns in the stretch

and held a 1 1/2-length advantage over a stalling Falcon Rock at the

eighth-pole.

By that time, Champ Pegasus was surging on the outside. Gaining ground hand

over fist, he overwhelmed Marlang in deep stretch. Also finishing fast in the

dying strides were Where's the Remote (Unbridled Native), who flew from last,

and a belatedly-rallying Bourbon Bay. Marlang was relegated to fourth at the

wire.

Champ Pegasus had three-quarters of a length to spare over Where's the Remote

while negotiating 1 1/4 miles in 2:01 1/5 on the firm turf. The popular winner

gave his supporters $5.40, $3.40 and $2.40 and keyed the $1 exotics -- $18.80

(exacta), $64.20 (trifecta) and $271.90 (1-3-6-5 superfecta).

The second-, third- and fourth-place finishers were separated by two necks.

Where's the Remote was dispatched at 7-1 in his stakes debut, and only his sixth

lifetime start, and the runner-up was good for $6.40 and $3.40. Bourbon Bay, the

2-1 second choice in his comeback from a five-month layoff, returned $2.60.

Marlang was 1 1/4 lengths clear of Falcon Rock in fifth, with Unusual Suspect

(Unusual Heat), Worth Repeating and Buenos Dias (Ire) (Peintre Celebre)

completing the order of finish.

Champ Pegasus now sports a mark of 8-4-2-1, $358,520. Unraced until last

December, he finished fifth in his career debut at Hollywood Park in his only

off-the-board result so far. After placing in a turf maiden and a Pro-Ride

maiden at Santa Anita, he earned his initial career win while going 1 1/8 miles

on Santa Anita's turf, scoring by 1 1/4 lengths on April 14, then was given a

two-month break. Mandella brought Champ Pegasus back to take an

allowance/optional claiming test over this course and distance on June 12, and

he followed up with a fine second to Marlang in his stakes bow in the July 18

Sunset H. (G3). Champ Pegasus moved forward next time in the August 29 Del Mar

H. (G2), where he charged from far back to win impressively by 1 1/4 lengths.

The Kentucky-bred Champ Pegasus is the first registered foal out of

Argentinean champion Salt Champ (Arg) (Salt Lake), heroine of the Mil Guineas

(Arg-G1), Polla de Potrancas (Arg-G1) and Gran Premio Gilberto Lerena (Arg-G1).

Following her importation to the United States, she captured the Santa Monica H.

(G1) in 2005. The 10-year-old mare also has an unraced juvenile filly named

Dynamo (Dynaformer), an unnamed yearling colt by Mr. Greeley and a weanling

filly by Tiznow. Champ Pegasus' second dam is multiple Group 3-placed Wandel (Arg)

(Fitzcarraldo), who is a full sister to Group 2-placed listed winner Mount

Wilson, and this is the same family as Group 3 scorer Nordstern (Fitzcarraldo).