At a time when the field for the May 21 Preakness Bets (G1) is in the right place, the Belmont Bets presented by NYRA Bets (G1) have selected an interesting opponent from an honorary spot.
WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH and Siena Farm’s We who finished with a 10 1/4 win in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) prize for 3-year-olds, Belmont ParkMay 14 is the stepping stone for the June 11 “Challenge of Champions”.
“Belmont Stakes is a solid choice,” said Elliott Walden, CEO, president and racing director of WinStar Farm. Tiznow mare, like Law Tiz (2020 Belmont Stakes winner), and is a large, stately horse. We will finalize the plans next week. “
Coached by Rodolphe Brisset, We the People’s tour de force in the Peter Pan set aside disappointment by finishing seventh in the April 2 Arkansas (G1) Derby, ending his Kentucky Derby. He was presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) and had his first loss in three career starts.
Son of the Bay Structure His initial speed worked against him at Oaklawn Park as he came off the field smoothly and then widely executed in the first inning and never got into serious controversy.
“We’ve always had a lot of respect for him,” Walden said after winning We the People’s first bet. “We were very disappointed in the Arkansas Derby. We understand that, but we had to take a deep breath because we thought we were going to make it through the Kentucky Derby. It was nice to see him vindicating us.”
That speed was a huge asset in a 1/8 Peter Pan turn when cyclist Flavien Prat gave We the People a 1/2-way lead after a quarter mile at: 23.66 on a good, closed race track.
We the People Goes to Immediate Victory in Peter Pan Stakes
Ahead just a long drive past Klaravich Stables’ Vote after six coats in 1:11.25, the product of the mare Tiznow Letchworth pour it in — move to the seven-long lead at the eighth pole and extend it from there.
Gary Barber, Manfred Conrad and Penny Conrad’s Golden roller coaster one Ghostzapper pony trained by Mark Casse, overcame a few horses to take second by the nose before Electability, a son of Quality Sugar Trained by Chad Brown.
“We know how good he is, he’s just his own enemy sometimes just because he’s a bit cocky. It was good today. He got a little warm in the paddock and we gave him that. He showered and you could see he was quite comfortable and drying up,” said Brisset. “I think the warm-up is good compared to Arkansas. Of course, if we bring a guy here it’s because we think he’s got a hit to do it. He can run with anything. What. He’s one of those types.”
A winner of the Oaklawn maiden option and allowance races totaling 10 3/4 in the first two starts, We the People was bred by Henley Farms and purchased by WinStar back for $230,000 from Eddie Woods’ shipment at Fasig-Tipton 2021 Florida Select 2 Year Olds in Training Sale.
He is the first winner from six ponies for Letchworth, who also has a 2-year-old Always dreaming The colt was purchased this year by Larry Hirsch for $220,000 from SBM Sales and Training consignment at Sales Company’s Ocala Sales Company Spring Sales Company 2 years old receiving training and a I yearn Can be heard pony.
For Prat, We the People was one of two bet wins an afternoon when he had previously received a three-day suspension (May 21-22 and May 27) for participating in the fourth race at Belmont Park on May 1.
He also won Beaugay Stakes (G3T) with Peter Brant and Michael Tabor’s Rougir for coach Chad Brown right after Peter Pan and finished the card with three straight wins.
“He played well today and put me in the race,” Prat said of We the People. “I wanted to have a clear and clear ride and see what he can do from there. He reacted very well.”
The big question, of course, is how We The People will handle the three subsections of a 1/2-mile ride around Belmont Park in the Triple Crown’s final leg.
“You never know until you run further, but it looks like it could be good for him,” Prat said. “He’s perfectly fine on the wet track.”
Second pick 5-2, We the People ($7.90) covers 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.27.
Brisset also trains Western River who is fourth, one neck behind Electability.
Set Sail , a West Coast shipper taken by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, was third by half a mile but faded into sixth with a 2-1 lead in field eight. He won 7 1/2 maiden length at Santa Anita . Park.
Video: Peter Pan S. (G3)
