Peter Pan could ignite Belmont hopes

By NY Hot List Staff | Thursday, May 9, 2024

A week after the Kentucky Derby, a race with implications on the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga will take place Saturday at Aqueduct. The Peter Pan Stakes, a traditional stepping stone to the Belmont, will be run as the sixth race of the day. A field of eight was drawn with Deterministic, a disappointing eighth in the Wood Memorial, the most intriguing starter. Since the draw, Lonesome Boy will race in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park and Chad Brown opted to send Tuscan Gold to the Preakness leaving a field of six 3-year-olds.

The $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) at Aqueduct, Saturday, Race 9, 3:08 pm EDT.

(2) Unique Insight (A) had a very fast victory on the front-end last time in a first level allowance and trainer Chad Brown will take a chance in this graded-stakes race. (3) The Wine Steward won his first three starts last year beginning with a NY-bred maiden by six lengths, then won the Bashford Manor which was run at Ellis Park, and the Funny Cide at Saratoga against state-breds. He was then second in a pair of Derby trail races – the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) and the Lexington (G3). He is a fresh horse after seven months rest before his 2024 debut. (7) Deterministic was an impressive winner of his first two starts which included the Gotham (G3). Then in the Wood Memorial (G2) he did very little running, but he has trained well since that Derby prep. (8) Native Land won his last two starts with a maiden at Oaklawn and an allowance at Keeneland. He ships up from Kentucky for Riley Mott.

The rest of the NY Hot List picks and the Special Saturday Pick 3 are available free of charge at this website.