(Edited Del Mar Thoroughbred Club report)

DEL MAR, Calif. – Champ Pegasus, the 3-2 favorite under leading rider Joel Rosario, rallied along the rail through the stretch with an impressive burst of speed to win the featured $200,000 Del Mar Handicap Sunday before 14,913 fans. 

Outrun in the early stages of the mile and three-eighths marathon over the infield grass course, Champ Pegasus saved ground on the final turn then made his move in the final eighth to win by 1 1/4 lengths in a fast 2:11.93 for the distance.

“Patrick’s horse (Patrick Valenzuela aboard Red Eye Express) being so far out front (he led by double-digit lengths at one point) concerned me, but I thought he was going too fast. My horse was nice and relaxed; running easy. He’s an easy horse to ride and when we came for home I was looking for a place to go — outside, inside. A spot opened inside for me and I went for it. Easy enough. It all worked out well,” Rosario said.

Buenos Dias, a 10-1 outsider ridden by Brice Blanc, won the battle for runner-up honors, nosing out Worth Repeating. Falcon Rock was fourth in the field of nine older horses. Unusual Suspect, who contested Saturday’s Pacific Classic, was withdrawn.

Champ Pegasus, a four-year-son of Fusaichi Pegasus owned by the Diamond A Racing Corp. of Gerald Ford and partner Arturo Vargas and trained by Richard Mandella, returned $5, $3.40 and $2.80 with his third victory in seven starts. First money of $120,000 increased his earnings to $208,520. In his previous appearance, he was runner-up to Marlang in the Sunset Handicap at Hollywood Park.

“I can’t say I wasn’t worried about Red Eyed Express being out there alone. He’s a Neil Drysdale horse and you’re always worried about what Neil is doing. But my horse was getting around there nice and he looked like he did at Hollywood Park [second in the Sunset Handicap] and kicked it in nice. You have to expect them to learn and get better at this. I’m pretty happy about the way he’s come around. The other little horse (Worth Repeating, third) ran well, too. I’ve been wanting to try him long and he gave it a good try. I still think I was second,” Mandella said.

What’s next? “I’ll probably run him (Champ Pegasus) in the Clement Hirsch at Hollywood Park [Oak Tree meet] and then we hope we’ll be looking at the Breeders’ Cup Turf. I don’t know if the mile and a half wouldn’t be a problem, but it’s something to dream about and that’s what this game is all about.”

The stakes win was the sixth of the meet for Rosario, but his first in the Del Mar Handicap. He now has won 13 stakes at Del Mar. The win also was his 43rd of the meet (this is Day 30 of the session) and gives him a two-win lead over Rafael Bejarano for the Del Mar riding title.

The stakes win was the first of the meet for Mandella and his first in the Del Mar Handicap. He now has won 48 stakes at Del Mar, tying him for fifth on the all-time list with trainer D. Wayne Lukas.

Champ Pegasus’ owners are Gerald Ford of Diamond A Racing Corp. and Arturo Vargas.

Since the Del Mar Handicap is a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In qualifying event, Champ Pegasus assured himself a spot in the B.C. Turf in November at Churchill Downs, should his connections so choose.

Buenos Dias returned $13.20 and $7.40, while Worth Repeating paid $6.40 to show.

Jockey Rafael Bejarano, locked in a tight race with Rosario for the riding title this summer at Del Mar, escaped serious injury in the third race Sunday when his mount, Wallstreeter, clipped heels and stumbled badly, unseating Bejarano.

Bejarano was examined at the track first aid station and then at Scripps Memorial Hospital where he was released with no more than some bumps and bruises. He is expected to ride Wednesday. Two of Bejarano’s mounts won, Imco Spirit in the fourth, and Scofield Barracks in the seventh.

Corey Nakatani had his biggest day of the season as he booted in four winners.