Pegasus fair odds: Bank this single in local Haskell prep

For those who follow the 3-year-old male division closely, the post Triple Crown season can provide some of the best wagering opportunities as known names get overbet and other horses who might deserve a mulligan get underbet.

So it goes with the Pegasus Stakes on Saturday at Monmouth Park, the first significant stakes affair after the classic races and the local prep for the Grade 1 Haskell Stakes on July 20.

In the former category of “known names get overbet” is Domestic Product, the Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner who had some buzz going into the Kentucky Derby before finishing a nonthreatening 13th of 20. The reality for me with this one is he is just not fast enough.

In the latter category of “horses who might deserve a mulligan” is Tuscan Sky, the disappointing seventh-place finisher in the Wood Memorial (G2). I am choosing to view that as an anomaly and playing him here as though his maiden and allowance victories are the true indication of his talent.

The Pegasus is the middle leg of an all-stakes Pick 3 that begins and ends with Grade 3 races on the turf, so I am hoping to find prices in those races with a willingness to single Tuscan Sky.

I took a long look at Sea Streak here, but his best race came in his softest pace, and although he has handled two turns OK to date, this is a big step up in class for the New Jersey-bred son of Sea Wizard whose average win distance is only 5.8 furlongs.

Uncle Heavy is my likely alternative to Tuscan Sky. The Wood and Preakness Stakes were too much for him, but this distance suits him better and he will be running at the end. Monmouth is very kind to speed, but with Domestic Product here, Uncle Heavy might be worth a play underneath our single.