Antiquarian Wins Peter Pan, Belmont Stakes May Be Subsequent

Antiquarian completed like a 3-year-old that might respect an extended distance when rallying previous The Wine Steward to win the $200,000 Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on Might 11 at Belmont on the Huge A.

Courting again to 1951, eight winners of the Peter Pan Stakes have gone on to win the Belmont Stakes introduced by NYRA Bets. Whether or not Antiquarian can develop into the ninth is to be decided in one other month.

The victory was the second in 4 begins for the Centennial Farms-owned colt, who has raced completely at distances of a mile or longer. Following a debut second at Gulfstream Park, he received a maiden race at Truthful Grounds after which ran a detailed sixth there within the Grade 2 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby, crushed 4 lengths by Catching Freedom.

The Todd Pletcher trainee broke via the beginning gate previous to the Louisiana Derby and, after reloading, was bumped initially.

Antiquarian was on his greatest habits Saturday, breaking mid-pack and settling in third on the surface underneath jockey John Velazquez, as rivals Distinctive Perception and The Wine Steward took activates the lead with fractions of :47.96 and 1:11.62. Three large round each turns, Antiquarian superior on the leaders coming into the lane and wore down The Wine Steward within the ultimate furlong, crossing the wire three-quarters of a size in entrance.

“He did every part proper at this time. He was excellent within the paddock and excellent within the gate and I believe that allowed him to run his race,” Pletcher mentioned.

The winner was timed in 1:48.99 on a quick observe. He paid $13.80 for a $2 win wager.

“I used to be anticipating a giant effort from him,” mentioned Velazquez, who received his third Peter Pan. “He was a bit spotty, however I do know he can preserve going that tempo the entire method round. He received very properly.”

Protecting, one other Pletcher trainee owned by Repole Secure, ran third after searching for racing room within the stretch.

Distinctive Perception, Deterministic, and Native Land accomplished the six-horse order of end.

Antiquarian gave Pletcher a fifth win within the Peter Pan. Three of his 4 prior Peter Pan winners raced within the Belmont. Madefromlucky ran sixth in 2015, Sunriver ran third in 2006, and Purge completed ninth in 2004.

Requested by New York Racing Affiliation tv host Maggie Wolfendale if the Belmont Stakes could be subsequent after the Peter Pan, Pletcher checked out Don Little Jr., president of Centennial Farms, and replied, “Completely.”

Fierceness, fifteenth within the Kentucky Derby as the favourite, and Mindframe, who’s unbeaten in two begins, are different potential Belmont Stakes starters for Pletcher. The June 15 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park is an alternative choice for Mindframe.

Pletcher has received the Belmont 4 instances, at all times with horses he beforehand raced at Churchill Downs in both the Kentucky Oaks or Kentucky Derby.

Because the Jena Antonucci-trained Arcangelo proved as not too long ago as final 12 months, the Peter Pan-Belmont double is doable.

Because of ongoing development at Belmont Park, this 12 months’s Belmont Stakes will likely be run at Saratoga Race Course at 1 1/4 miles, shorter than its customary 1 1/2-mile distance.