The Peter Pan (Grade 3)- $200.000 Purse
BEL- For Three Year Olds
One Mile and One Eighth on the Dirt
May 13, 2023
The Peter Pan is a great race that is situated right between the KYD and PRK on the schedule for three-year-olds who may have missed out on the big race last week but also may not be ready to go to PIM next week. It can feature up and comers looking to make a name for themselves or underachievers during TC prep race season. Or it could simply be a place for a trainer who has a bunch of otherwise talented horses to find a good racing opportunity. The race runs for the 18th time, and the most notable past winner would be Black Mojo in 2016, as he would go on to run second in the BEL a month later, and ultimately was a BC Classic champion in 2017. Last year, the race was won by Spiced, for Smokey Stover. He also tried the Black Mojo path into the BEL, but it did not go nearly as well. We have ten heading to the starting gate for this year’s racing. Here they are!
#1- At The Gates (Mb Stables, ridden by K Carmouche)- When you’re Mb Stables, the Peter Pan is just another race to put some of your loaded army of horses into. At The Gates ended up running second in the SA Derby last August, and that got him to the 26th on the KYD leaderboard. He’s only won once over seven starts, so that may be why he’s not a name that has been talked about all that much but he has some good works coming into this race, and it will be interesting to see how he follows up that SA Derby performance.
#2- Racket Cat (Alydar Stables, ridden by D Van Dyke)- In his third start, Racket Cat ran in the Grade 3 SUN Derby, fresh off of breaking his maiden. With a late running effort, he nearly picked up the victory there, but had to settle for being a close second. With just a week or so of rest, he was placed in the BG Stakes, and simply did not make that late run. Now, he’s actually had some time to recover but I am not in love with his most recent work when measuring him up against this crowd.
#3- Everythings Fine (TwinTowersRacing, ridden by J Lezcano)- Ran well in his first four starts, hitting the board in three of them, but it would not be until after he was sold to TwinTowersRacing to where he would finally get that maiden win. It came at AQU against NY-breds at the start of April, and he might be continuing to blossom. A strong work was put together at the Big A on the 19th, and now he will race against winners for the first time. Could be a sleeper in this field.
#4- Duster (Nakamura Stables, ridden by L Dettori)- Won three of his first four starts, highlighted by the $75.000 Half Ours Stakes at FG, for LA-breds, in late February. That was a good race to build off of, and he would next be entered into the Grade 3 SUN Derby. In that, he had one of those finishes that is always frustrating for a virtual trainer: being only one length off of the winner, but also failing to cash a check. I wish his works were just a tad quicker, but still think he could get it done. Won’t be among my picks, though.
#5- Energizer Party (Mb Stables, ridden by L Saez)- Like his stablemate, Energizer Party was successful during prep race season, getting a win in the Grade 2 Rebel, which was fresh off of breaking his maiden. That usually gets you into the KYD, but he was the odd one out in the numbers game for the trainer. Running eighth in the SUN Derby made the decision easy for Mb not to pick him, but he did still finish 20th on the leaderboard. Needs to bounce back from the SUN Derby, though.
#6- Lossupra (Kingelleinc, ridden by P Lopez)- Raced very, very cheaply to begin his career, but took care of business in the races that he was entered in. He would end up being claimed for a mere $3.200 by Kingelleinc, and he has since won his first two in his new silks. Overall, he knows how to win, despite his name starting with loss, with four victories in five starts. He’s only had a couple weeks of rest for this one but that might not be an issue as he is otherwise not over raced.
#7- Centennal Hall (D J C Racing Stables, ridden by M Franco)- After needing a race, Centennal Hall got off to a quick start for his career, and became a stake winner at the start of the year when he captured the $100.000 Rego Park, for NY-breds, at the Big A. That earned him the distinction of taking on KYD preps, and that started well with a third place showing in the Grade 3 Gotham. However, a dud in the BG Stakes did him in for the Derby but does allow him this great landing spot. This may be the biggest threat to Mb Stables in this race.
#8- Brother Bear (Rampage Stable, ridden by T Gaffalione)- Like Centennal Hall, he also needed a race to get started, and also just needed to start running long. Once he did so, the improvement would come quickly with a win at PRX, and then two starts later, a solid runner up at SA in an allowance. He would be seen in the Ruby Stakes in late March but did not fare well in the mud that day. The trainer will be hoping for much better weather this time around.
#9- More Twist (Mb Stables, ridden by J R Velazquez)- When I looked at his race, the Grade 3 Lexington, I spoke about how much of a steal I feel that purchase price is for Mb Stables. Despite only running fifth in that race, I still like More Twist and the amount of potential in which he has. If there was any reason to be down after the Lexington, that would have changed on the 29th, after a blistering work at PRX. More Twist is the real deal, and the rest of the field will experience that starting here in the Peter Pan.
#10- Ein Gedi (Iolaus Racing, ridden by D Davis)- He’s a maiden, and this field is too good. That said, you can play the angle of him arriving in a new barn after a $150.000 private sale at the end of April. He hasn’t raced poorly and was never dropped into cheap maidens. When he does break his maiden, I like his potential. But still, see that Mb trio? That’s a tough ask for Ein Gedi.
Prediction: 9-1-7-5
— NS
Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES
