First Look: Peter Pan leads 5 graded stakes at 2 tracks

Still nursing that Derby hangover?

Racing continues full throttle with a stakes-packed Saturday at Belmont at Aqueduct and Churchill Downs, where five graded races give horseplayers fresh targets just one week after the dust has settled on Kentucky Derby weekend.

The Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan takes center stage this weekend as the 1 1/8-mile prep historically has launched Belmont Stakes winners like A.P. Indy, Tonalist and Arcangelo. This year’s rendition features a compelling battle between Chad Brown’s Hill Road and Todd Pletcher’s Vassimo, both eyeing bigger targets next month.

With emerging 3-year-old talent and seasoned stakes veterans in action, Saturday’s slate offers plenty of wagering opportunities before attention shifts to Pimlico next weekend.

Saturday

Man o’ War (G2), Belmont at Aqueduct, 1 3/8 miles, turf, 4-year-olds and up

Padiddle comes into this five-horse race off a third-place finish in the Pan American (G3) on March 29, showing improvement from his maiden victory at Gulfstream that month. The 3-year-old colt trained by Fernando Abreu has been displaying a closing style in recent starts that has seen him finish within striking distance of the winner. Far Bridge enters off a victory in that Pan American, where he defeated his rivals by a neck. Trained by Christophe Clément, the 4-year-old has established himself as a dominant turf performer with three wins from his last five starts, including a victory in the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1) at Belmont at Aqueduct in September.

Gun Song comes into this race having hit the board in five straight starts dating to July. This 4-year-old filly by Gun Runner placed third in her most recent start at Gulfstream Park on March 13 after finishing second by just a head in both the Mother Goose (G2) and the Cotillion (G1). Headline Numbers steps in off a victory in the Top Flight Invitational at Aqueduct on April 12. The Brown-trained filly never has finished worse than fifth in her six career starts.

Hill Road brings international credentials, impressing first in Ireland with a maiden score before crossing the Atlantic to finish third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile after closing from 10th. The colt from Brown’s barn most recently hit the board in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3), finishing third. Vassimo has found success in softer company with allowance and maiden victories at Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream but has struggled when facing tougher competition. The son of Nyquist has failed to hit the board in both stakes attempts, finishing fourth in the Risen Star (G2) and sixth in the Louisiana Derby (G2), where he never factored after a wide trip.

Silver Slugger has dominated at the claiming and allowance level with six wins. In this six-horse race, the Juan Ávila-trained gelding will be trying stakes company for the third time in his career, failing to hit the board in previous added-money starts. Surveillance has been in the money in all five starts this year including a second in the Tom Fool (G3). Linda Rice’s charge recently scored in an Aqueduct allowance beating a short field, and before that he finished fourth in the Carter (G2). The Nerud used to be a seven-furlong race in July. It was moved to the spring to replace the defunct Runhappy (G3), and its purse was cut from $200,000 to $175,000.

Shisospicy has established herself as a rising star with a victory in the Limestone at Keeneland on April 11. The daughter of Mitole has finished no worse than third in her five career starts. Me Governor has compiled a 9: 3-2-1 record for trainer Carlos David. The 3-year-old filly by The Factor finished fourth most recently in the Limestone at Keeneland and second in the Melody Of Colors in March at Gulfstream. Her last victory came in November in the Stewart Manor at Belmont at Aqueduct. Probable entrants were not available yet, so the possible starters listed are based on recent activity.