The Peter Pan Stakes (G3) is traditionally Belmont Park's local prep race for its signature event, the Belmont Stakes (G1), with the winner and/or runner-up often moving on to the big race in early June. For the third year in a row—and the last time—the Peter Pan will be held at Aqueduct Racetrack during the Belmont at the Big A meet, while the Belmont Stakes will be held at Saratoga Race Course.
By this time next year, both races will be held at a brand-new Belmont Park and the summer-fall racing routine in New York will be back to normal. Saturday's Peter Pan will be shown live on FS2 during the "America's Day at the Races" program.
1. Trendsetter: Enters the race off a surprising 32-1 upset win in the 1 1/16-mile Lexington Stakes (G3) at Keeneland, where he swept to the lead at the top of the stretch and won going away by 2 1/4 lengths. That was only his second start around two turns, and he should be coming from back of the pack again in this spot.
JOCKEY: Kazushi Kimura; TRAINER: Ben Colebrook
2. Azam: Intriguing Florida shipper finished first in two of three starts at Gulfstream Park. He was disqualified and placed second in his career debut but most recently won a one-mile, one-turn maiden race. Should be part of the early pace under one of New York's top jockeys.
JOCKEY: Jose Lezcano; TRAINER: Jose D'Angelo
3. Growth Equity: Races for familiar and top-class connections and, after two runner-up finishes, broke through with a sharp 4 1/4-length win in a one-mile maiden race at Aqueduct in March. Solid workouts leading to this race, where he's a main win candidate.
JOCKEY: Flavien Prat; TRAINER: Chad Brown
4. Bull by the Horns: Won one of four starts on dirt with a distant seventh in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) before trying the all-weather surface in Turfway Park's Rushaway Stakes, which he won by a half-length. Trendsetter finished third in the Rushaway before winning the Lexington, and it's not out of the question that this one could make a similar move in his return to dirt.
JOCKEY: Micah Husbands; TRAINER: Saffie Joseph Jr.
5. Talk to Me Jimmy: Led throughout to upset the 1 1/8-mile Withers Stakes on this track in early February, but could not secure the early lead in the Wood Memorial Stakes (G1) at the same track and distance and tired to finish eighth. Should again have company up front as he tries to rebound.
JOCKEY: Manny Franco; TRAINER: Rudy Rodriguez
6. Gulfy: After going winless through five starts, he was claimed out of a one-mile race at this track, which he won by 5 1/2 lengths. He then took a one-mile starter optional claiming race by a hard-fought head at the Big A in late March. Should be a pace factor but, overall, seems a cut below the best here.
JOCKEY: Kendrick Carmouche; TRAINER: Gustavo Rodriguez
THE PICK: Growth Equity
LIVE LONGSHOT: Bull by the Horns
TRIFECTA: 3-4-1
