Alternation Nips Adios Charlie in Peter Pan
Alternation opened the door for a possible start in the June 11 Belmont Stakes as he outkicked favored Adios Charlie through the final yards to win Saturday’s 57th edition of the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan at Belmont Park.
The 3-year-old Distorted Humor colt, making his first start since finishing fifth in the April 16 Arkansas Derby, sat in mid-pack as 30-1 shot Bold Deed towed the field of 10 through opening fractions of 23.78, 47.14 and 1:11.90. With Adios Charlie taking command at the top of the lane, Alternation moved four-wide to launch his bid and collared the favorite in midstretch before edging clear in the final jumps to win by a head.
His time for the 1 1/8 miles was 1:49.53 over the fast track.
“I was very impressed,” said Ramon Dominguez, aboard Alternation for first time. “It was good to see that as big as he is, he’s also got tactical speed and more than one gear.”
It was the fourth victory in six starts for Alternation, who was taken off the Kentucky Derby trail after his loss in the Arkansas Derby. Donnie Von Hemel, who trains the dark bay colt for Pin Oak Stable, said the Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Stakes was one of several options for Alternation.
“We’ll probably go back to Arlington, but we’ll certainly keep all of our options open,” said Von Hemel, who was saddling his first starter at Belmont Park since Mariah’s Storm finished ninth in the 1995 Breeders’ Cup Distaff.
Sent off as the 7-2 second choice by the crowd of 6,386, Alternation paid $9.40 for a $2 win wager as he more than doubled his earnings to $215,004 with the winner’s purse of $120,000.
Adios Charlie, who won the Grade 2 Jerome on April 23 in his third career start, was 4 ½ lengths clear of Prime Cut in his first start at 1 1/8 miles.
“It was a tough beat,” said jockey Rajiv Maragh, aboard the runner-up. “He’s a resilient horse. The tougher the competition gets, the more he will give you.”
Completing the order of finish were Joe Vann, Bold Deed, Monzon, Beer Meister, Newsdad, Uncle Brent, and Tap Attack. Isn’t He Perfect was scratched.