Tom Pedulla presents five key takeaways from the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes, a prep race for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, and other major developments this weekend.
ON TO BELMONT STAKES?: Trainer Jena Antonucci will look to Arcangelo to make the decision on whether he goes on to the June 10 Belmont Stakes after he prevailed in a scorching duel with Bishops Bay for jockey Javier Castellano on Saturday in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan at Belmont Park. It was only the fourth career start and first against graded-stakes company for the colt, who certainly appears to be bred for the 1 ½-mile Belmont marathon. Arcangelo is a son of Arrogate out of the Tapit mare Modeling from the family of 2007 Broodmare of the Year Better Than Honour, dam of Belmont Stakes winners Rags to Riches and Jazil. “There is a conversation. We have no plan yet,” Antonucci said, adding, “Ground has never been a problem.”
DEFYING TIME: Is there a more admirable performer in racing than Red Knight? The 9-year-old gelding earned his first Grade 1 victory for Tom Egan’s Trinity Farm when he repelled Soldier Rising by a length and a half in the $600,000 Man o’ War Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard, he covered the 1 3/8-mile distance in 2:13.74. Red Knight has enjoyed a resurgence since being transferred to trainer Mike Maker, sweeping half of his six starts with a second-place finish for his new barn. “I was very impressed as always,” Maker said. “He’s just a hard-knocking horse who loves his job.”
NIGHT MOVE: The father-son training team of Gustavo Delgado and Gustavo Delgado Jr. is doing everything possible to help lightly-raced Mage add the Preakness Stakes to his Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve upset. In their desire to make sure the horse encountered as little traffic as possible during the van ride from Churchill Downs in Louisville to Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, they opted to ship the colt at night. They trailed the van and pulled into Pimlico at 6 a.m. Sunday. They made only two stops – to buy gas and to make sure Mage had adequate water – and completed their journey in 11 hours. “It was a good, smooth trip. He is a good traveler,” Delgado Jr. said of Mage.
HOME RUN: Alex Bregman, the Houston Astros’ All-Star third baseman, will be otherwise occupied and not able to make the trip to Royal Ascot from June 20-24. But his horse, No Nay Mets, secured an automatic berth there when he delivered a front-running 3 ½-length victory in the Royal Palm Juvenile Stakes on Saturday at Gulfstream Park. The win, with Luca Panici aboard, was particularly impressive because No Nay Mets was making his debut. “He’s a pretty nifty colt. He was on a rushed schedule for this,” trainer George Weaver said. “There’s no reason not to go over there. It’s a lot of fun and he’s got as good a chance as anybody.”
MAJOR PLAYER: Rodeo Creek Racing’s Blazing Sevens shows every sign of being a major player in the Preakness for trainer Chad Brown after he drilled five furlongs in 1:00.02 on Saturday at Belmont Park. His was the fastest of 11 timed workouts at the distance. Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. handled the workout and came away impressed. “It went perfect. He was within himself. He’s fit and happy,” the rider said. Blazing Sevens skipped the Derby after finishing third in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland for Brown. The trainer is bidding for his third Preakness. He also bypassed the Derby with his two previous winners, Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting last year.
