Seven go in Saturday's Peter Pan at Belmont Park (photo credit: © Cheryl Quigley | Dreamstime.com)
A field of seven three-year-olds will line up in Saturday’s $200,000 Peter Pan (G2), a race that serves as the local prep for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes (G1) on June 7.
The Christophe Clement trained Tonalist is the 2-1 morning line favorite and will be making his stakes debut. The colt ran second to Constitution against first level optional claimers in his last start and was being pointed toward the Wood Memorial (G1), but a lung infection and minor foot problems removed him from the Derby Trail.
A victory on Saturday would likely make the colt a major player for the Belmont Stakes. The last horse to win the Peter Pan and the Belmont Stakes was A.P. Indy in 1992.
Joel Rosario gets the mount on the son of Tapit who put in a bullet breeze over the main track at Belmont Park on May 4.
His biggest threat will likely come from Commissioner, one of two in the field sent out by Todd Pletcher, who won this race in 2004 with Purge and 2006 with Sunriver. The colt was off poorly in his last two starts, a third in the Sunland Derby (G3) and a sixth place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Coming up on Sunday at Belmont Park is the $400,000 Man o’ War (G1), which drew a field of seven turf runners that will go 1 3/8 miles. The race will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 1 as part of the Jockey Club Tour on Fox. The 90-minujte telecast gets underway at 4:30pm (ET) and includes coverage of the $200,000 Ruffian (G2).
Let’s head out to Belmont Park for Saturday’s featured race of the day:
Belmont Park Race 9 The Peter Pan G2 (5:28 ET)
4 Tonalist 2-1
3 Commissioner 5-2
1 Matterhorn 6-1
2 Fabulous Kid 4-1
Analysis: Tonalist makes his first start since running second against Alw-1 optional claimers at Gulfstream Park in his first start against winners. He ran into a very tough group led by the winner Constitution, who came back to win the Florida Derby (G1). The fourth place finisher was Wicked Strong, who came out of that race to win the Wood Memorial (G1) and then run fourth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). Our top pick has a lung infection and a few minor feet problems that knocked him out of the Wood. He is going to be tough here for the Clement barn that is 21% winners with runners coming back off a 61-180 day layoff. The colt is bred to like a wet track.
Commissioner beat the highly regarded Top Billing back in January in a first level optional claimer and it looks as if this guy was going to be a serious Derby contender. However, he came up short in three Derby preps, the last a sixth in the Arkansas Derby (G1). He has not been off cleanly in his last two starts and now picks up Castellano. This guy is bred to go long and handle a wet track. He is by A.P. Indy out of the stakes winner Flaming Heart ($245,961) who also dropped stakes winner Laugh Track ($577,715).
Matterhorn was outrun in that key race that Tonalist exits and then he came back to run a decent third in his last outing. He showed some promise last fall at Aqueduct breaking his maiden in his debut He gets a jock upgrade to Johnny V. and I do not think we have seen the best out of this colt, who was a $625,000 purchase. He is by red hot sire Tapit and out of the stakes winner Winter Garden ($902,288). The colt is a full brother to stakes winner Title Contender ($247,888).
Wagering
WIN: #4 to win at 9-5 or better.
EX: 3,4 / 1,2,3,4
TRI: 3,4 / 1,2,3,4 / 1,2,3,4,6
Michael Dempsey’s Preakness Day Report
Michael’s Report includes his selections, analysis, fair odds line, and wagering recommendations for the entire Preakness Day card from historic Pimlico. Michael is a Maryland bred and knows the circuit from the backstretch to the finish line.
The second jewel of the Triple Crown will be run on Saturday May 17 at Pimlico. The big day of racing has eight supporting stakes including the $400,000 Dixie Stakes, $150,000 Gallorette Handicap and the $150,000 Maryland Sprint Handicap. Mike’s Report will be available on Friday May 16.
