Deterministic headlines talented group in G3 Peter Pan; Neecie Marie set for seasonal debut in G3 Beaugay

Posted On 10 May 2024

By Keith McCalmont —-

Deterministic headlines talented group in G3 Peter Pan

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Grade 3 Gotham-winner Deterministic will look to make amends for his off-the-board effort in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan, a nine-furlong test for sophomores, at Belmont at the Big A.

The Peter Pan is the traditional prep for the Grade 1, $2 million Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets, which will be contested at a distance of 10-furlongs at Saratoga Race Course on Saturday, June 8 as part of the four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. NYRA will waive the entry and starting fees to the Belmont Stakes, excluding the supplemental fee, for the first three finishers of the Peter Pan.

The Peter Pan is slated as Race 6 on Saturday’s 11-race card which also features the Grade 2, $400,000 Man o’ War in Race 7, the Grade 3, $175,000 Runhappy in Race 4 and the rescheduled Grade 3, $175,000 Beaugay in Race 2. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

Last year, Arcangelo won the Peter Pan en route to Grade 1 victories in the Belmont Stakes and the Spa’s Travers to secure year-end honors as Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. Arcangelo joined Counterpoint [1951], High Gun [1954], Gallant Man [1957], Cavan [1958], Coastal [1979], Danzig Connection [1986], A.P. Indy [1992] and Tonalist [2014] as Peter Pan winners to subsequently score in the Belmont Stakes.

Christophe Clement, who completed the Peter Pan-Belmont Stakes double with Tonalist, will send out St. Elias Stable, Ken Langone, C. Steven Duncker and Vicarage Stable’s Deterministic [post 7, Joel Rosario, 123 pounds], who flashed potential at first asking in August at Saratoga by overcoming a slow start and rallying to a half-length score in a seven-furlong maiden tilt.

The Liam’s Map colt required time off for an ankle chip surgery and subsequently wintered at Payson Park training center in Florida where he breezed extensively, including with eventual Group 2-placed Pandagate, ahead of his victorious return from a seven-month layoff on March 2 in the Grade 3 Gotham here.

With regular pilot Joel Rosario up in the one-turn mile Gotham, Deterministic stalked from third position through a swift three-quarters in 1:10.94 over the sloppy and sealed track. He rallied wide through the turn and took aim at the leading El Grande O, surging to the front just before the sixteenth pole en route to a two-length victory over next-out Grade 1 Blue Grass runner-up Just a Touch in a final time of 1:36.37.

Last out, Deterministic went to post as the mutuel favorite in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by Resorts World Casino where he failed to threaten with an uncharacteristic eighth-place finish.

Deterministic posted a near-bullet half-mile work in 47.10 seconds in company on Saturday over the Belmont Park dirt training track.

“We were a little bit puzzled,” said Clement, regarding the Wood Memorial performance. “We did all sorts of tests. He came back and he’s trained well. Saturday’s work was a spectacular work. He’s had three works since the Wood.”

Both of Deterministic’s wins have come around one-turn. The Peter Pan, when held at Belmont Park, is also a one-turn event but with the race being conducted at Aqueduct on Saturday it will require the well-regarded colt to prove his mettle at two turns.

“That’s a question mark,” admitted Clement. “Does he want to go a mile or a mile and an eighth? Unless you try them, you don’t know, but he’s doing well.”

The $625,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase, bred in Kentucky by Hinkle Farms, is out of the winning Speightstown mare Giulio’s Jewel – his turf stakes-winning third dam, Amelia, produced graded stakes-winning turfers Rainha Da Bateria, Assateague and Kindergarden Kid.

Paradise Farms Corp. and David Staudacher’s multiple graded stakes-placed New York-bred The Wine Steward [post 3, Luis Saez, 120 pounds] will look to breakthrough at the graded level after a pair of close runner-up efforts.

Trained by Mike Maker, the Vino Rosso bay won his first three starts sprinting led by a six-length debut romp against fellow state-breds last May at Belmont Park ahead of an open-company stakes win in the Bashford Manor in July at Ellis Park and a head score over multiple graded stakes-placed El Grande O in the state-bred Funny Cide presented by Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital in August at the Spa.

The Wine Steward has made his last two starts around two-turns in graded company at Keeneland when second defeated a half-length by Locked in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity in October and completing the exacta last out when three-quarter lengths back of Encino in the Grade 3 Lexington in his first start from a six-month layoff.

Maker said the initial goal for The Wine Steward was to compete in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby, but will now use the Peter Pan as a bridge to the Belmont Stakes – the third leg of racing’s Triple Crown.

“The Derby was the plan before we started but he had a couple setbacks through the winter, so it didn’t quite pan out,” Maker said. “He came out of the Lexington in great order and we’re expecting a step forward in the Peter Pan.”

Maker said The Wine Steward has handled the stretch out to two turns with aplomb.

“He always showed quality from Day One and we were just biding our time to stretch him out,” Maker said.

Maker selected the $340,000 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training purchase after watching the colt breeze an eighth of a mile in 10.2 seconds.

“He had a nice work and is a very attractive and athletic individual. He was one we had to have,” Maker said.

Bred by Sequel Thoroughbreds, Lakland Farm and Mark Toothaker, The Wine Steward is out of the To Honor and Serve mare Call to Service, a half-sister to graded stakes-winners Isotherm and Giant Game. He has banked $427,260 through a 5-3-2-0 record.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out a pair of challengers in pursuit of his third Peter Pan win with Tuscan Gold [post 5, Flavien Prat, 118 pounds] and Unique Insight [post 2, Eric Cancel, 118 pounds].

William Lawrence, Walmac Farm and Stonestreet Stables’ Tuscan Gold graduated at second asking by 6 1/4-lengths when stretched out to 1 1/16-miles around two turns on January 31 at Gulfstream Park.

The Medaglia d’Oro colt followed with an impressive third in the 1 3/16-mile Grade 2 Louisiana Derby, overcoming post 10-of-11 to finish just 1 3/4-lengths back of Kentucky Derby fourth-place finisher Catching Freedom, who won by a neck over Derby eighth-place finisher Honor Marie.

The $600,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is out of the graded stakes-winning Curlin mare Valadorna, who is a half-sister to the Brown-trained 2018 Grade 1 Champagne-winner Complexity.

Klaravich Stables’ Unique Insight, by Hall of Famer Gun Runner, found his stride in his last two outings when stretched out to nine furlongs at the Big A, breaking his maiden in February by 4 1/2-lengths and following last out with a frontrunning 1 1/4-length score over Corporate Power on April 12.

The $360,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale purchase, a half-brother to New York-bred stakes-winner Drake’s Passage, is out of the graded stakes-placed Speightstown mare Raucous, who is a half-sister to Grade 2-winner Open Water.

Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will send out Protective [post 1, Irad Ortiz, Jr., 118 pounds] and Antiquarian [post 6, John Velazquez, 118 pounds] in pursuit of a record-extending fifth win in this event following past success with Purge [2004], Sunriver [2006], Madefromlucky [2015] and Promise Keeper [2021].

Repole Stable’s Protective is still a maiden after three starts but has shown promise in each outing topped by a troubled-trip rush from 11th-of-12 to finish third last out in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial.

The Medaglia d’Oro colt finished a close second to eventual multiple stakes-winner Valentine Candy on debut in July at the Spa and followed by crossing the wire third in a two-turn route at Tampa Bay Downs in March before being disqualified and placed fourth for drifting out.

The $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase is out of the multiple graded stakes-winning Empire Maker mare Grace Hall, who won the 2011 Grade 1 Spinaway en route to a runner-up effort in that year’s Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

Centennial Farms, who won this event in 2016 with Unified, will be represented by Antiquarian, a chestnut son of their 2019 Grade 1 Woodward-winner Preservationist. The $250,000 Keeneland September Yearling Sale purchase debuted with a close runner-up effort to Conquest Warrior in January at Gulfstream. He followed with a prominent maiden win on February 17 traveling 1 1/16-miles over sloppy and sealed footing to best next-out winner Cornishman by one length.

Antiquarian arrives from a sixth-place finish in the Louisiana Derby where he broke through the gate before the start. He is out of the winning Istan mare Lifetime Memory, who is a half-sister to graded stakes-winner Speaktomeofsummer and stakes-winner Proud Reunion.

Rounding out a talented field are Cheyenne Stable’s Native Land [post 8, Junior Alvarado, 118 pounds], who arrives on a two-race win streak for trainer Riley Mott; and Lonesome Boy [post 4, Adam Bowman, 120 pounds], trained by Hugo Padilla for owner John E. Parker, a last-out fourth in the Wood Memorial and cross-entered in Saturday’s Long Branch at Monmouth Park.

America’s Day at the Races will present daily coverage and analysis of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet on the networks of FOX Sports. For the complete broadcast schedule, visit https://www.nyra.com/aqueduct/racing/tv-schedule.

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Neecie Marie set for seasonal debut in G3 Beaugay

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Michael Milam’s dual graded stakes-placed Neecie Marie will make her 4-year-old debut in Sunday’s Grade 3, $175,000 Beaugay, a 1 1/16-mile outer turf test, at Belmont at the Big A.

The Beaugay is slated as Race 2 on Sunday’s 11-race card which also features Grade 2, $400,000 Man o’ War in Race 7, the Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan in Race 6 and the Grade 3, $175,000 Runhappy in Race 4. First post is 12:35 p.m. Eastern.

Trained by Butch Reid, Jr., the Pennsylvania-bred Neecie Marie posted two solid runner-up efforts to the Charlie Appleby-trained favorite Eternal Hope over this course last fall when a neck in arrears in the 11-furlong Grade 3 Jockey Club Oaks Invitational and a half-length back in the nine-furlong Grade 2 Sands Point.

The Cross Traffic bay, a modest $25,000 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic Eastern Fall Yearling Sale purchase, worked her way up the ranks after graduating in a $25,000 claimer sprinting six furlongs over the Parx main track last May to garner just a 43 Beyer Speed Figure.

Neecie Marie stretched out to one mile and 70 yards and switched to turf next up, taking an optional-claimer against older company in prominent fashion over firm footing in June at Parx to register a 78 Beyer. She regressed over soft going traveling 7 1/2-furlongs in a restricted allowance on July 12 at Delaware Park but avenged in short order with two sharp scores at Parx – first in prominent fashion against older company to best open optional-claimers on July 24 ahead of a rallying 2 1/4-length win in the state-bred Mrs. Penny in August to set up her graded efforts here.

Reid, Jr. said Neecie Marie, last seen finishing fifth in the off-the-turf Grade 3 Mrs. Revere on November 24 at Churchill Downs, has improved with time off.

“She’s put on weight and her body has matured over the last year. I think she’s going to have a very productive year. She’s doing great coming into this,” Reid, Jr. said.

Reid, Jr. scratched Neecie Marie from the one-mile Dahlia on April 20 at Laurel Park in favor of the longer Beaugay.

“She’s doing really well and the best part about it is she can run all day. When those longer turf races come up this summer, she’ll be ready for them,” Reid, Jr. said.

Neecie Marie is out of the winning Posse mare Lode Lady, who is a half-sister to 2022 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby-winner Rich Strike and Grade 2-winning turfer Llanarmon. She has banked $265,700 through a 9-4-2-0 record.

Joel Rosario will pilot Neecie Marie from post 2.

Four-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown will send out Grade 1-winner Whitebeam [post 5, Irad Ortiz, Jr.] and Grade 2-winner Aspray [post 4, Flavien Prat] in search of a record-extending seventh win in this event. Both horses have worked extensively at Payson Park Training Center in Florida in preparation for their seasonal debuts.

Juddmonte’s British-homebred Whitebeam won a trio of consecutive starts in Europe before joining the Brown stable last year, posting a close runner-up effort to multiple graded stakes-winner Evvie Jets on debut here last April in the Listed Plenty of Grace.

The 5-year-old Caravaggio mare followed with a 2 1/2-length score in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 Gallorette last May at Pimlico, a key race that runner-up Sopran Basilea exited to win Delaware Park’s Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial and third-place Bipartisanship followed with a win in the restricted President’s Cup at Parx.

Whitebeam made her Saratoga Race Course debut in the nine-furlong Grade 1 Diana with a prominent trip under Flavien Prat, dueling beyond her favored multiple Grade 1-winning stablemate In Italian to notch a narrow nose victory. Third-place finisher Fev Rover exited the Diana to win the Grade 1 Beverly D. at Colonial Downs.

Whitebeam completed her campaign with fourth-place finishes in both the Grade 1 First Lady in October at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Matriarch in December at Del Mar. She is out of the Oasis Dream mare Sleep Walk, who is a half-sister to Group 1-winner Logician and multiple graded stakes-winner Suffused.

RanJan Racing’s Kentucky homebred Aspray was last seen making the grade in the Spa’s Grade 2 Lake Placid in August at Saratoga. The 4-year-old Quality Road bay, with returning rider Prat aboard, stalked from fourth position before making a four-wide move to post a two-length score over stablemate Surge Capacity, who exited that effort to score consecutive wins in the Grade 3 Valley View at Keeneland and the Grade 1 Matriarch at Del Mar.

Aspray, out of the multiple group stakes-winning Galileo mare Up, has won 4-of-5 starts, including a victory in the Hilltop last May at Pimlico. The lone blemish on her record is a fourth-place finish in the 10-furlong Grade 1 Belmont Oaks Invitational in July at Belmont Park.

The in-form Spirit And Glory [post 3, Jose Lezcano] has won two of her last three outings, including the 1 1/16-mile Albert M. Stall Memorial in February at Fair Grounds and the one-mile Plenty of Grace last out on April 21 here.

Trained and co-owned by Robert Falcone, Jr. with Michael Nentwig, Michael Dubb, Beast Mode Racing and John Rochfort, the 5-year-old Cotai Glory bay made every pole a winning one in the four-horse Plenty of Grace en route to a five-length score over Group 3-winner Midnight Mile.

Spirit And Glory launched her current campaign from a six-month layoff with an impressive ground-saving run to win the Albert M. Stall Memorial over soft ground at Fair Grounds, besting multiple stakes-placed Tryinmyheartout by three-quarters of a length.

The Irish-bred posted a visually-appealing score in her U.S. debut in June 2022 at Belmont Park, closing from last-of-8 to win an optional-claimer. She followed two starts later by adding the Virginia Oaks to her ledger with a strong close from 12th-of-14 to score by 1 1/4-lengths. Last year, she captured the Miss Liberty at Monmouth Park as her lone win from five starts that included a neck defeat to Closing Remarks in the Grade 2 Yellow Ribbon Handicap in August at Del Mar to complete her campaign.

Rounding out a compact but talented field is the Robert Ribaudo-trained two-time winner Quarrel [post 1, Javier Castellano], who is cross-entered in a Friday allowance event here. Movie Moxy, Bustin Bay and Ocean Gateway are entered for the main-track only.