Premier Pegasus sizzles five furlongs in advance of Santa Anita Derby

Premier Pegasus powered through five furlongs in preparation for the Santa Anita Derby (Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos)

Premier Pegasus enhanced his role as the favorite for
next Saturday’s Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby with a sizzling five-furlong
workout Saturday morning at the 8 a.m. (PDT) break on Santa Anita’s fast main
track. The impressive winner of the Grade 2 San Felipe was timed in a
bullet :59 1/5 under regular rider Alonso Quinonez.

The move was the fastest of 17 recorded works at the distance.

“We talked to Alonso before the work and told him to get a nice, easy
work. We wanted a slower work but I don’t think we could get anything
slower than that,” said Raxon Cho, the 17-year-old son of
owner/trainer/breeder Myung Kwon Cho, who was at his son’s side.

“I’m very happy with the horse,” the elder Cho said. “I liked the
horse from his first race, but I didn’t expect him to accomplish as much
as he’s had so far. I love him now.”

Baffert is still on the fence about Jaycito’s next start (Alex Evers/EquiSport Photos)

Grade 1 winner Jaycito, who could run either face a rematch
with Premier Pegasus in the Santa Anita Derby or go against Uncle Mo in Aqueduct’s
Grade 1 Wood
Memorial on the same day, turned six furlongs in 1:13 2/5 with Martin Garcia
aboard on Saturday.

“He worked nice,” Bob Baffert said. “We’ll know (where he runs) tomorrow.”

The bay sophomore closed his juvenile campaign with an unplaced run
behind Uncle Mo in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, and was second to
Premier Pegasus last out in the San Felipe in his seasonal bow.

Also working on Saturday for the Santa Anita Derby was Bench Points.
Third by nine lengths in the San Felipe, the dual stakes winner sped five furlongs
in :59 4/5 for trainer Tim Yakteen.

At Hollywood Park, C.B. Afflerbaugh Stakes hero and Santa Anita Derby
hopeful Celestic Night clocked three-quarters in a bullet 1:12 under
Joe Talamo for trainer Mike Mitchell.

Up north at Golden Gate Fields, OFFLEE WILD BOYS (Offlee Wild)
traveled six furlongs in 1:13 4/5 on the Tapeta in advance of a possible
start in the Santa Anita Derby.

In other Santa Anita Derby news:

Conditioner David Hofmans said there is a “50-50” chance
Grade 2 Robert B. Lewis third Quail Hill would run in the
Santa Anita Derby. The bay colt was last seen finishing fifth in the San Felipe.

Trainer Eoin Harty said Anthony’s Cross was
scheduled to have his final major drill for the Santa Anita Derby on Monday.
Unraced since taking the Lewis, the bay is set to work five
furlongs at Hollywood.