Trainer & Director of Horse Operations

Mike hails from a large racing family which educated him in the many facets of thoroughbred racing. He began his career as a trainer in 1984 at Longacres Race Track and raced horses there until the track closed in 1992. Setting his goals higher, he ventured to other race tracks in New York, Chicago, Kentucky, Texas, and Southern California. This experience provided him with a vast working knowledge of both dirt and synthetic racing surfaces.

Among his many achievements is winning the Precisionist Stakes at Hollywood Park with Stolen Gold, he saddled the Kirkwood-owned Daros to win the Del Mar Derby before running in the Breeder’s Cup Turf, and won the Lone Star Derby with Southern Africa. Mike was also instrumental in helping Eclipse award-winning jockey, Tyler Baze, break into the sport of horse racing. He is highly respected for his expertise by horse trainers and owners such as: Kathy Walsh, Bob Baffert, Mike Pegram, Gary Tanaka, John Sadler, John Sherriffs and many others.

He continues to work with young people interested in horse racing by providing advice and encouragement to grooms, riders and new trainers. Mike brings to Pegasus a working knowledge of developing young horses through the breaking process and early development. His experienced eye helps horses develop to their full potential.

Executive Assistant of Horse Operations

Melissa started her career with horses at a very young age growing up on a show & working cow horse ranch in Prosser, Washington.  As a child she competed horses in the show ring riding Western, English Pleasure and Equitation.   In addition, she had experience in hunter jumper competitions.  Melissa learned horsemanship and technique in the cutting and reining world.  She spent a year with a renowned reining and cutting horse trainer in Eastern Washington where she furthered her skills in that discipline.

She recounts starting her first horse under saddle when she was 10 years old and soon thereafter took on outside clients as a way to earn money while she was growing up.  In 2007 she helped a family friend start the training process for race horse babies and was asked to go to Emerald Downs to continue to help with the race horses. Working at Emerald Downs, Melissa was a groom and exercise rider where she was able to expand her knowledge base in the race horse industry learning from trainers, veterinarians and farriers alike.   Melissa’s career at Pegasus began in 2010 and she became assistant trainer in the fall of 2013.

Office Manager/Videographer

Brooke was born and raised in the Northwest. She began riding at the age of 12, and met the love of her life, a Paint horse named Disney, at the age of 14. They grew up showing English and Western Pleasure, and have been together ever since. She is a graduate of the University of Washington, where she earned her B.A. in Communication and Culture. She worked as a Bartender and Server for nearly 11.5 years. She has a tremendous love for travel and a passion for music. She joined the Pegasus family in February of 2017 as a Videographer, and became the Office Manager in July. Although new to the world of horse racing, she is enthusiastic and driven to fulfill her new role at such a world class facility! 

Facility Maintenance Manager

Kyle was born and raised in the Seattle area and has been working at Pegasus since 2006.  He brings with him extensive knowledge of landscaping and building maintenance.  He has worked in the industry since 1994.  His knowledge and expertise allows him and his staff to keep our facility looking beautiful and running smoothly and safely.

Kyle resides with his family at Pegasus’ Woods Creek facility in Monroe, Washington.

Rehabilitation Manager

Brennan grew up in South Carolina, where she began riding and showing hunter jumpers at the age of five. A love of racehorses developed in 1982 after watching Gato Del Sol win the Kentucky Derby, and she knew that working with horses would be the best career for her. She continued to show horses on the East Coast until 1992 when she moved to the Pacific Northwest with her parents. Here she attended WSU, where she majored in Communications and foreign languages.

In 2002, Brennan received the opportunity to gallop racehorses at Emerald Downs for Aubrey Villyard  and his wife Sue. A great working relationship and friendship started, and together with Brennan’s husband Ben, they all bought eventual California Champion two-year-old Pirate’s Deputy at the Barrett’s Select Yearling Sale. Along with the Villyards at Emerald and Santa Anita, Brennan galloped for Mike Chambers, Frank Lucarelli, Jim Penney, and here at Pegasus. Her time at the track gave her invaluable experience as a groom, exercise rider, assistant trainer, and breaking babies. An injury in 2014 left her unable to ride, so she went to school for equine massage and physical therapy and switched gears to rehabilitation.

Along with her husband Ben, she has a four year old son Jack, a dog named Sherman and her horse Jebrica. 

Consulting Surgeon

Dr. McIlwraith obtained his veterinary degree from Massey University, New Zealand, was in practice in New Zealand and the UK followed by an internship at the University of Guelph, Canada and a surgical residency at Purdue University. He also obtained MS and PhD degrees from Purdue University. Since 1979 he has been a faculty member at Colorado State University. Currently he is a University Distinguished Professor, holds the Barbara Cox Anthony University Endowed Chair in Orthopaedics and is the Founding Director of the Orthopaedic Research Center. He also has a referral equine orthopaedic surgical practice based in Southern California and is a consultant and surgeon for clients elsewhere in the US and Ireland, England, France and New Zealand.

His research interests focus on equine orthopaedic surgery and translational joint disease research including novel treatments for osteoarthritis and articular cartilage repair, mesenchymal stem cell therapies and early diagnosis of osteoarthritis and pre-fracture disease using imaging and fluid biomarkers. He has authored six textbooks, over 450 scientific publications and textbook chapters and has presented over 700 seminars and workshops, both nationally and internationally to equine practitioners, veterinary specialty groups and human orthopaedic meetings.

Honors include doctoral degrees (honoris causa) from the University of Vienna (1995), Purdue University (2001), Massey University (2003), the University of Turin (2004) and the University of London (2010). Awards received include the Schering-Plough Award for equine research for his contributions to orthopaedic research by the World Eaquine Veterinary Association (1995), the  Frank Milne Lecture (Lifetime Contribution Award) from American Association of Equine Practitioners (2005), induction into the international Equine Research Hall of Fame (2005), the Founders Award for Lifetime Achievement from American College of Veterinary Surgery (2006), the John Hickman Award for Equine Orthopaedics from the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) (2006), the Markowitz Award from the Academy of Surgical Research (2013), the Marshall R. Urist MD Award for Excellence in Tissue Regeneration Research from the Orthopaedic Research Society (2014), Honorary Fellow of the International Cartilage Research Society (2018), Schofield Memorial Lecture and Medal, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph (2018) and the American Association of Equine Practitioners Research Award (2018).

Veterinarian Consultant

Dr. Bryant is a 1995 graduate of the University of California- Davis. After graduation he completed a one year internship in large animal medicine and surgery at Texas A&M University followed by a residency in large animal surgery at the University of Florida. Dr. Bryant became a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons in 2000. Following his residency he was on clinical faculty at both the University of Florida and Kansas State University as well as working in a private practice in Ocala Florida. In 2003 Dr. Bryant returned home to the Northwest and has been on staff at Pilchuck Veterinary Hospital for the last 12+ years as a staff surgeon, lameness clinician and a partner.  Dr. Bryant has served as the USEF assistant and team veterinarian for the sport of endurance and participated with the team at 2 World Equestrian Games. Dr. Bryant has focused the last 10 years of his career on sports medicine, lameness evaluations and orthopedic surgery.

In 2006 Dr. Bryant began working with Pegasus Training and Equine Rehabilitation Center as an on-site veterinarian. Involved in the daily veterinary care of both training and horses in the rehabilitation program allows for the continued advancement of the care of sport horses in active training and rehabilitation environment.

Exercise Rider

Byron Rodriguez Cruz is from Barbarena, Santa Rosa, Guatemala. 

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He began galloping race horses in 2006, and loves the sport of horse racing. He also loves being a part of the Pegasus family,and to be able to work with such beautiful and talented horses!

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He lives with his wife Brenda and their two beautiful children Luis and Joanna. After the horses, his sport and entertainment of choice is Soccer.

Exercise Rider

Andrew was born in Drogheda, Ireland. His horse racing career began in 1982 at the Irish Apprentice Jockey School. He was an Apprentice Jockey to renowned Irish Trainer John Oxx for 5 years. Since then he has had an incredible career- riding as a Professional Jockey in Ireland, England, and the East Coast USA tracks of Philadelphia Park, Garden State Park, and Delaware Park. He has ridden some amazing horses as well, notably Fusaichi Pegasus, Borrego, Make Music For Me, and Trojan Nation. He is also a licensed Trainer, and over the years has run strings for Trainers Bob Greely and Alexis Barba. He is grateful for the experiences and opportunities that he has had with with each and every one of his horses!