Dating back to 1951, eight winners of the Peter Pan Stakes (G3) have gone on to have success in the Belmont Stakes (G1).
Whether Antiquarian can become the ninth is to be determined in another month, but the son of Preservationist finished like a 3-year-old that would appreciate a longer distance in rallying past The Wine Steward in the $200,000, 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan May 11 at Aqueduct Racetrack.
The victory was the second in four starts for the Centennial Farms-owned colt, who has raced exclusively at distances of a mile or longer. Following a debut second at Gulfstream Park, he won a maiden race at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, and then ran a close sixth there in the Louisiana Derby (G2), beaten four lengths by Catching Freedom .
The Todd Pletcher trainee broke through the starting gate prior to the Louisiana Derby and, after reloading, was bumped at the start.
But he was on his best behavior Saturday, breaking midpack and settling in third on the outside under jockey John Velazquez, as Unique Insight and The Wine Steward took turns on the lead with fractions of :47.96 and 1:11.62. Three wide around both turns, he advanced on the leaders coming into the lane and wore down The Wine Steward in the final furlong, crossing the wire three-quarters of a length in front.
"He did everything right today—he was perfect in the paddock and perfect in the gate and I think that allowed him to run his race," Pletcher said.
The winner was timed in 1:48.99 on a fast track. He paid $13.80 for a $2 win wager.
"I was expecting a big effort from him," said Velazquez, who won his third Peter Pan. "He was a little spotty, but I know he can keep going that pace the whole way around. He won very nicely."
Repole Stable's Protective , another Pletcher trainee, ran third.
Unique Insight, Deterministic , and Native Land completed the six-horse order of finish.
Antiquarian gave Pletcher a fifth win in the race. Three of his four prior Peter Pan winners raced in the Belmont: Madefromlucky ran sixth in the 2015 race; Sunriver ran third in the 2006 Belmont; and Purge was ninth in 2004.
Asked by New York Racing Association television host Maggie Wolfendale if the Belmont would be next after the Peter Pan, Pletcher looked at Don Little Jr., president of Centennial Farms, and replied, "Absolutely."
Fierceness , 15th in the Kentucky Derby (G1) as the favorite, and Mindframe , who is unbeaten in two starts, are other potential Belmont starters for Pletcher. The June 15 Pegasus Stakes at Monmouth Park is another option for Mindframe. Fierceness races for Repole Stable, Mindframe for Repole Stable and St. Elias Stables.
Pletcher has won the Belmont four times, always with horses he previously raced at Churchill Downs in either the Kentucky Oaks (G1) or Kentucky Derby (G1).
🎙️ @PletcherRacing has all eyes on the @BelmontStakes for ANTIQUARIAN! 🤩 Congratulations to the connections on the Peter Pan victory! pic.twitter.com/608Wg0nZwi
— NYRA (🌳) (@TheNYRA) May 11, 2024
As the Jena Antonucci-trained Arcangelo proved as recently as last year, the Peter Pan-Belmont double is doable.
Due to ongoing construction at Belmont Park, this year's Belmont Stakes will be run at Saratoga Race Course at 1 1/4 miles, shorter than its customary 1 1/2 miles.
Moments like this with partners like these and a horse like him... endlessly grateful to everyone who got us here, including Antiquarian himself! #goBabyPgo pic.twitter.com/iNgbe4LZ5T
— Centennial Farms (@Centennial_Farm) May 11, 2024
Antiquarian, bred by the late Brereton C. Jones, was purchased by Centennial Farms for $250,000 at the 2022 September Yearling Sale from the Airdrie Stud consignment. Antiquarian is out of the Jones homebred Istan mare Lifetime Memory .
Centennial Farms raced the Jimmy Jerkens-trained Preservationist to win the 2019 Woodward Stakes (G1), among other races. He now stands for $5,000 at Airdrie Stud in Kentucky. Antiquarian is the second-crop sire's first graded stakes winner.