Eighth in Wood, Group identified in Peter Pan

Sandwiched between the first two legs of the Triple Crown, the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness Stakes (G1), the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) could be overshadowed by multimillion-dollar classics shout that.

But it can still put a starter or starter—and sometimes a winner—into the third and final leg of the Triple Crown, the $2 million Belmont Stakes (G1). Just last year, Arcangelo captured the Peter Pan and Belmont Stakes and added the Travers Stakes (G1) in the summer.

With these latter achievements still fresh in the horsemen’s memories, eight 3-year-olds were entered in the May 11 Peter Pan Stakes at Water racetrackamong them identify , winner of his maiden race last year as a 2-year-old and the one-mile Gotham Stakes (G3) this year as a 3-year-old. After those two one-run races, he finished eighth in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct, a loss that took him off the Kentucky Derby circuit.

Other notable participants include Lexington Stakes (G3) runner-up Wine manager and Louisiana Derby (G2) finisher Tuscan Gold , although the latter is not an obvious departure. Trainer Chad Brown is also considering running Tuscan Gold in the Preakness on May 18 at Pimlico Race Coursea race he won twice.

Deterministic will need to improve on his first two-way race to win on Saturday over the same 1 1/8-mile distance at which he faltered in the Wood. Excited early in the following race, trailing Joel Rosario as he was placed fourth, he was late and faded to finish 17 3/4 lengths behind winning resilience . Since that race, the son of Liam’s map recorded three works, including a bullet near half a mile on May 4 above Belmont Park Training route: 47.10. He ran for the St. Louis owners. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable.

Clement’s Take

“He trains in New York and I think every piece since Wood Memorial has been a better piece,” coach Christophe Clement said. “He’s doing well. He’s healthy. He looks great. Peter Pan makes sense.

“If he wants to be a horse that wants to go longer, this will be good preparation for the next one.”

Of course, the “next race” is the Belmont Stakes, which Clement won in 2014 with tonalist another horse edged Peter Pan-Belmont’s double.

Normally, Peter Pan gives a horse the edge when starting recently on the Belmont Stakes surface, but that was not the case this year. Due to ongoing construction at Belmont Parkthe race is currently taking place at Aqueduct Raceway before moving on Saratoga Race Course for Belmont Stakes week.

Because Saratoga’s track configuration is different from Belmont Park, the distance of the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga is 1 1/4 miles, not the race’s traditional 1 1/2 miles.

Ranked sprinters compete in Runhappy

Peter Pan isn’t the only dirt race rated Saturday at Aqueduct. The $175,000 Runhappy Stakes (G3) at six furlongs supports a four-stakes Saturday program that also includes the Beaugay Stakes (G3T) and the Man o’ War Stakes (G2T) on the turf.

Straight Without Chasing makes his first start of 2024 at Runhappy after being out of action for nearly a year due to injury. He faces five opponents led by Durant And Joey’s soft drink .