Kentucky Derby Horse Profile: Pneumatic

Aug 01, 2020 John Mucciolo/TwinSpires.com

Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Pneumatic picked up 20 qualifying points on the 2020 Road to the Kentucky Derby challenge series following his 2 1/4-length triumph in the $155,000 Pegasus S. at Monmouth Park. Ridden by Joe Bravo, the sophomore clocked 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.76 to pick up his initial stakes tally.

Trained by Steve Asmussen, the dark bay colt commenced his career at Oaklawn Park on Feb. 15 and was a winner on debut in a 6-furlong maiden special weight dash. The colt returned in April in a one-mile allowance tilt at Oaklawn and came out victorious once again, this time striding home to a convincing 2 1/2-length score.

Pneumatic made his stakes bow at Churchill Downs in the Matt Win (G3) and finished a strong third behind top 3-year-olds Maxfield and Ny Traffic. He preceded his Pegasus victory with a fourth-place finish in the deep Belmont (G1) behind Tiz the Law. His lifetime line now reads 5-3-0-1, $256,850.

The son of Uncle Mo is the first black-type victor produced from the stakes-placed Tapit mare Teardrop, who counts herself as a three-quarter sister to millionaire Pyro who annexed the 2009 Forego (G1), while also finishing runner-up in the 2007 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and third in the 2008 Travers (G1). Teardrop is also a full sister to Grade 3 winner War Echo and the Group-1 placed Farrier.

Pneumatic has shown consistent progression this season and earned a lifetime best 103 BRIS Speed figure for his work at Monmouth Park, while also registering a healthy 106 Late Pace number. The colt has never run a bad race in his lifetime and is obviously among the talented sophomores in his division.

He would have to come back off only 21 days rest and may wait for the Oct. 3 Preakness (G1) to join the Triple Crown trail, but homebred has the catalog page to handle the 1 1/4 miles at Churchill Downs. With stamina influences such as Tapit and Wild Again on his dam’s side, Pneumatic is bred for a classic distance. However, he would need to improve to challenge top rivals on Derby Day.