Pegasus Thoroughbred Training Center embodies the extraordinary vision of Dr. Mark

Dedomenico, a world-renowned heart surgeon whose groundbreaking contributions to

medicine include the development of coronary bypass surgery, the Guided Flow Aortic

Heart Valve, and the Bionit Arterial Grafts—innovations that continue to save lives

globally.

Inspired by his father, Paskey Dedomenico, Dr. Dedomenico began frequenting

racetracks over 70 years ago. His passion for Thoroughbred racing led him to purchase

his first racehorse at age 30 and to acquire Woods Creek Training Center in Monroe,

Washington, in 1970.

Pegasus is the realization of Dr. Dedomenico’s lifelong dream: a world-class equine

facility designed to provide exceptional care for horses of all disciplines. The center

upholds the highest medical standards, integrates cutting-edge training and

rehabilitation methods, and is staffed by dedicated experts who share his deep

commitment to equine excellence.

Dr. Dedomenico’s remarkable achievements in the horse racing industry earned him a

place in the Washington Racing Hall of Fame. Among his many successes, he owned

Blind Luck, 2010 Eclipse Award-winning Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, She’s A Tiger,

2013 Eclipse Award-winning Champion 2 Year Old Filly, Prime Engine, champion of the

2014 Gottstein Futurity and 2015 Emerald Derby Prime Engine was also named 2015

Champion 3-Year-Old in Washington State. Dr. Mark also has a host of other graded

stakes winners, and stakes winners in his history of owning and racing Thoroughbreds.

In recognition of his visionary leadership, exceptional contributions, and unwavering

dedication to the Washington Thoroughbred industry, Dr. Dedomenico was honored with

the S.J. Agnew Special Achievement Award in 2015.

Today, Pegasus Thoroughbred Training Center stands as a testament to Dr.

Dedomenico’s legacy—an enduring symbol of innovation, passion, and excellence in

the world of equine athletics.

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.

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! 

Miranda’s passion for horses began in her early teenage years. She grew up in 4H showing Hunt seat Equitation and Western pleasure. Miranda is currently an active competitor in the Jumper world where she competes with her horse Callen.

Miranda has a degree in Chemical Oceanography from the University of Washington with an emphasis on Ocean Acidification.

She lives in Snohomish with her husband where she loves to garden and has a lifelong curiosity about all things horse, ocean, and garden related.

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.

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).

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.

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

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!

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.