The perfect run for Woodford Racing LLC’s Timeline continued at Monmouth Park June 18, as the colt made it four-for-four in taking the $100,000 betfair.com Pegasus Stakes by an impressive 3½ lengths before a Father’s Day crowd of 18,527.
“He was brilliant again,” winning trainer Chad Brown said. “There was a chance he would wind up on the lead. Ultimately, I just left it up to [jockey Javier Castellano]. He rode a terrific race, as always.”
Timeline was hustled to the front early before opening a clear lead up the backstretch. Turning for home, runner-up Talk Logistics got within a length of the leader before being repelled. The winner stopped the timer in 1:41.32 — just one second off the track record of 1:41.20 set by Formal Gold in 1997.
Dispatched the 1-10 choice in the field of five 3-year-old colts and geldings, Timeline paid $2.20, $2.10 and $2.10. Talk Logistics completed the $5 exacta and paid $2.60 and $2.10. It was another 13¼ lengths back to Honor the Fleet, who paid $2.10 to show.
“I used him a little out of the gate to just get him going,” Castellano said. “I loved the way he did it today because when I asked him early, he didn’t rush. He just galloped along on the lead. He handled the track so well. He’s a very nice horse.”
A colt by Hard Spun from the Empire Maker mare Azorina, Timeline broke his maiden at seven furlongs at Gulfstream March 4 before taking an entry level allowance at Aqueduct on April 6 at a mile. Last out, he captured the Grade 3 Peter Pan at Belmont going a mile and an eighth.
The June 18 Grade 3 score moves Timeline’s lifetime earnings to $243,000.
Live racing continues at Monmouth Park June 23 — gates open 11:30 a.m., first post is 12:50 p.m. As always, the racetrack is open seven days a week for simulcasting from across the country and around the globe.
Classy Class takes Salvator Mile
Cheyenne Stables LLC’s Classy Class moved to the lead just before leaving the first turn and never looked back, opening up to an impressive 2¾-length score in the Grade 3, $100,000 Salvator Mile Stakes at Monmouth Park June 17.
Trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, Classy Class covered the distance in 1:35.27 over the fast main track and returned $20.80, $10 and $6.40. Just Call Kenny rallied to complete the $256.60 exacta and paid $17.80 and $8.20. Adirondack King was a neck back in third, good for a $9.40 show mutuel. Name Charger, sent off the 3-1 favorite in the field of nine colts and geldings, checked in fifth.
“I knew my horse liked being on the lead and there was a lot of speed to my inside,” said winning jockey Antonio Gallardo, who picked up the mount when Paco Lopez was taken off the card after being kicked in the paddock prior to the day’s opener. “Coming out of the first turn, he had an easy lead. He enjoyed being on the front and had a nice, long stride and never stopped. He hit the quarter pole and gave me another kick in the stretch.”
A 5-year-old horse by Discreetly Mine from the Saarland mare Collegiate, Classy Class improved his lifetime record to 5-0-4 from 18 starts, good for earnings of $426,100. This marked his first victory in graded stakes company.