Premier Pegasus eyes Derby after huge San Felipe

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - Premier Pegasus trounced the Bob Baffert-trained favorite Jaycito by more than seven lengths in the San Felipe Stakes on Saturday at Santa Anita, announcing himself as a hot Kentucky Derby prospect and throwing wide open the West Coast field of Triple Crown contenders.

Ridden by Alonso Quinonez for trainer Myung Cho and racing longer than a mile for the first time, Premier Pegasus was seventh in the early going but made a huge move on the second turn, pulling away to win by 7 3/4 lengths and covering 1 1-16 miles in 1:41.23.

Baffert's talented but streaky colt Jaycito was bumped early in his 3-year-old debut. He managed to get from last to second but came nowhere near the leader as the trainer prepares prospects in an attempt to win his fourth Derby.