Premier Pegasus out with hairline fracture

Premier Pegasus has been sidelined with a hairline fracture (Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos)

Daily Racing Form reports that PREMIER PEGASUS (Fusaichi Pegasus), the
8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s Santa Anita Derby (G1), is sidelined
with a hairline fracture to his cannon bone.

The winner of the San Felipe S. (G2) by a record margin last time out,
Premier Pegasus was ranked as the West Coast’s leading Kentucky Derby (G1)
contender.

Assistant trainer Maria Ayala told the DRF that Premier Pegasus stumbled
slightly during a routine gallop on Santa Anita’s training track Thursday
morning. Subsequent X-rays discovered the injury to his left foreleg.

Bred, owned and trained by Myung Kwon Cho, Premier Pegasus has compiled a
sterling 5-4-0-1 mark with $293,400 in earnings. He was unbeaten as a juvenile,
capturing the Jack Goodman S. and Hollywood Prevue (G3), and suffered his only
loss when third to The Factor (War Front) in the February 20 San Vicente S. (G2)
in his sophomore debut.

Premier Pegasus next stretched out to two turns in the San Felipe, where he
rated off the pace and powered to a 7 3/4-length triumph over JAYCITO (Victory
Gallop).

News of Premier Pegasus’ injury-induced scratch came to Santa Anita Stakes
Coordinator Zachary Soto early Thursday afternoon.