Undefeated Bishops Bay Makes Stakes Debut in Peter Pan

The Peter Pan Stakes (G3) has long been considered a prep race for the Belmont Stakes (G1) even if the numbers have been a bit anemic over the last few decades. Since 1992, the only Peter Pan winners to return and take the final leg of the Triple Crown are A.P. Indy in 1992 and Tonalist in 2014. Though in 2019 Sir Winston used a second-place finish in the Peter Pan to win the 1 1/2-mile classic, while Commissioner, who was second to Tonalist in the Peter Pan, duplicated that feat four weeks later in the Belmont. Yet it's also hard to ignore how a strong effort in a 1 1/8-mile stakes over the racetrack could bode well for a 3-year-old's chances in the Belmont. That theory will be tested once again May 13 when a field of nine 3-year-olds will assemble at Belmont Park for the Peter Pan, with the winner receiving the majority of the $200,000 purse and the inevitable postrace question: Is the Belmont Stakes next? The most intriguing starter would seem to be Bishops Bay, who will be making his stakes debut after winning his first two starts for trainer Brad Cox at odds of 1-2 or less in Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots races. The Ontario-bred son of Uncle Mo won his Feb. 18 debut in a six-furlong sprint by a little less than a length and then prevailed by a neck in March 19 allowance race at a mile-and-70-yard distance in his last start. "You couldn't ask for a horse to ship in any better. He got over the track well and they say he's been training very well down in Kentucky. He seems like a very kind horse and is easy to get along with," said Dustin Dugas, Cox's New York-based assistant. The undefeated colt was purchased for $450,000 from the Warrendale Sales consignment at the Keeneland September Yearling Sale by the BSW/Crow Colts Group which organized the overflow ownership group of Spendthrift Farm, Steve Landers, Martin Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, Kueber Racing, Big Easy Racing, Rick Kanter, Michael Caruso, and breeder WinStar Farm. Cox also entered Gold Square's Slip Mahoney, who was a troubled sixth in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2), eliminating him from Kentucky Derby (G1) consideration. An Arrogate colt, Slip Mahoney is also entered in Saturday's Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park. Trainer Todd Pletcher also has two Peter Pan entrants in Go Soldier Go and Classic Catch. Owned by Victorious Racing, Go Solider Go will be making his United States debut after finishing fifth last time out behind Derma Sotogake (JPN) in the UAE Derby (G2). A son of Tapiture has won two of his six career starts entering his first start for Pletcher. Whisper Hill Farm's Classic Catch, a son of Classic Empire, also ran in the Wood, rallying from 11th to finish fifth. Shipping in from California is The Del Mar Group's Henry Q. Third in the March 26 Sunland Park Derby (G3), the speedy son of Blame was a winner of the Feb. 28 Mine That Bird Derby by nearly 15 lengths. He will be ridden by European legend Frankie Dettori, who will also be aboard Godolphin's Warren Point (GB) in the $600,000 Man o' War Stakes (G1T) earlier in the card.