6/16/26 Barn Notes

Compiled by Robert Yates

Baby Vino was all man in his stakes debut.

In his first start outside Oaklawn, Baby Vino was a 10 ¾-length winner of the $125,000 Pegasus Stakes for 3-year-olds Saturday at Monmouth Park.

Baby Vino ($7.80) was exiting a sharp 2 ¾-length maiden allowance victory May 1 at Oaklawn for trainer Lindsay Schultz. The 1 1/16-mile race was Baby Vino’s fifth start at the meeting.

Baby Vino was ridden for the first time Saturday by runaway Monmouth Park riding leader Paco Lopez. Baby Vino surged to the lead with a three-wide move turning for home and drew off through the stretch to complete 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.36. The time generated a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 88, a career high.

Baby Vino’s Beyer Speed Figures have climbed in each of his last five starts – 51, 71, 77, 85 and 88. The colt’s last four starts, including a runner-up finish at 1 1/8 miles March 28, have been around two turns.

A son of champion Vino Rosso, Baby Vino has a 2-2-1 record from six lifetime starts and earnings of $194,916.

Schultz, who is based at Monmouth Park, won nine races at the 2025-2026 Oaklawn meeting that concluded May 2.

The Pegasus was a local prep for the G1-Haskell Stakes July 18.

Finish Lines

Oaklawn-raced East Avenue ($7.20) nosed out Oaklawn stakes winner Bishops Bay to win the $150,000 G3-Salvator Mile Stakes Saturday at Monmouth Park. … Favored Oaklawn stakes winner Grace Is Free ($2.40) was a front-running 10 ¾-length winner of the one-mile $50,000 Panthers Stakes for 3-year-old fillies Friday at Prairie Meadows. The Panthers was a local prep for the $225,000 Iowa Oaks July 10. … Favored Oaklawn-raced Thunders Rocknroll ($6.80) won the six-furlong $50,000 Prairie Rose Stakes for fillies and mares Friday at Prairie Meadows. Oaklawn winners Blue Squall and Demidanu finished second and third, respectively. … Multiple Oaklawn winner In Just My Heels ($5.20) won the 8 ½-furlong $50,000 Jack Bishop Stakes Friday at Prairie Meadows. Multiple Oaklawn winner Popperina was third. … Favored Oaklawn allowance winner J J Grey ($2.20) won the $50,000 Prairie Mile Stakes Saturday at Prairie Meadows. …Three-time Oaklawn winner Hola Joey ($7.20) moved to eight-for-14 overall with a victory in the six-furlong $50,000 Ed Skinner Stakes Sunday at Prairie Meadows. Hola Joey has career earnings of $387,379. Oaklawn winners Zero Sugar and Strike Ridge were second and third, respectively. Oaklawn maiden special weight graduate Out of the Woods finished second in the $300,000 Delaware Derby Saturday at Delaware Park.