Network, a $62,500 claim earlier this year, can pay further dividends Friday for trainer Eddie Broome in the $250,000 Pegasus (gr. III) on opening night at the Meadowlands.Network is part of an eight-horse field entered in the 1 1/8-mile event for 3-year-olds. Magna Graduate is the 2-1 morning line choice while Andromeda's Hero is listed at 5-2."He's been awesome since we've got him, including winning four in a row at Monmouth," said Broome, a four-time training champion at the Meadowlands. Broome claimed the Pulpit gelding Jan. 23 at Gulfstream Park. He then ran two sub-par races in turf claimers. "He was still learning then," Broome said. After an eighth-place finish on the grass March 11, Network switched back to the dirt, scoring in a $62,500 claiming race before finishing second in an entry-level allowance event at Monmouth to open the season on May 14. After that Network reeled off four straight, a pair of allowance races and a couple of stakes, including the $100,000 Lamplighter on Haskell Day. From 11 career stakes, Network has a record of six wins and two seconds for earnings of $230,690.He was last seen in the $750,000 Pennsylvania Derby (gr. II), finishing fourth, beaten 5 1/2 lengths by Sun King."(Joe) Bravo was riding the race to win it," Broome said. "He moved when Sun King did, and I think that cost him second money. He flattened out in the final sixteenth and got beat just a length for second. It was a big race from him. and he just keeps getting better."
Bravo will be back aboard Network. Bravo won the 1998 edition with Tomorrows Cat.Magna Graduate ran second behind Real Dandy in the West Virginia Derby (gr. III) at Mountaineer six weeks ago for trainer Todd Pletcher. A total of 101 horses were entered for Friday night's opening night card. The 11-race program includes five turf events. $250,000 Pegasus Stakes (gr. III, Race 8, 10:17 p.m.), 3-year-olds, 1 1/8 miles
PP. Horse, Weight, Jockey
1. Network, 120, Joe Bravo
2. Crown Point, 118, Jose L. Espinoza
3. Naughty New Yorker, 120, Jean-Luc Samyn
4. Magna Graduate, 120, John R. Velazquez
5. Doctor Voodoo, 118, Christopher P. DeCarlo
6. Golden Man, 118, Edgar S. Prado
7. Tani Maru, 120, Richard Migliore
8. Andromeda's Hero, 118, Rafael Bejarano