Peter Pan: Odds and analysis for Belmont Stakes prep

The Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan will be run Saturday as part of the Belmont at the Big A spring meet, going 1 1/8 miles on the main track. For 3-year-olds only, the Peter Pan drew a field of six. 

The Peter Pan is the local prep race for the Belmont Stakes with its place on the calendar four weeks before the final leg of the Triple Crown series. Arcangelo completed the Peter Pan-Belmont double in 2023, joining Tonalist, who did it in 2014. The first three finishers in this year’s race will receive a spot in the Belmont with all entry fees paid.

Here is the full-field analysis for the Peter Pan with the official track's morning-line odds. The stakes is scheduled as race 9 of 11 with post time set for 5:11 p.m. EST.

1. Trendsetter, 3-1. Modernist – Ben Colebrook / Kazushi Kimura – 8: 3-1-1 - $421,962. Trendsetter began his career with two wins at Colonial Downs last summer as a 2-year-old. His next six starts were in open-company stakes. As a 3-year-old he was second at Turfway Park, fourth at Laurel Park and third back at Turfway stretching out in distance to go two turns. Last month, he won the final race on the Kentucky Derby trail at Keeneland in the Lexington (G3), where he defeated horses who are expected to run in the Preakness. Top pick.

2. Azam, 10-1. McKinzie – Jose D’Angelo / Jose Lezcano – 3: 1-1-1 - $41,680. Azam crossed the finish line first in maiden special weights twice. He was disqualified from his debut and placed second at Gulfstream Park in June and then was away from the races for nine months. Azam was second in his March return and then led every step of the way in a one-turn mile to get his maiden victory at the Florida track. He will ship to New York to face winners for the first time. Live long shot.  

3. Growth Equity, 6-5. Nyquist – Chad Brown / Flavien Prat – 3: 1-2-0 - $77,600. Growth Equity made an early start at Saratoga, where he came from a stalking position to finish second and then needed seven months to be ready to run again. At Gulfstream he went seven furlongs to finish second, a length behind the winner. In March, Growth Equity went a mile at Aqueduct, where he pressed the pace and took control of the race early to win by more than four lengths. Chad Brown has won the Peter Pan three times, including last year with Hill Road. The one to beat.

4. Bull by the Horns, scratched. Essential Quality – Saffie Joseph Jr. / Micah Husbands – 5: 2-0-2 - $187,115. Bull by the Horns will run in the Preakness.  

5. Talk to Me Jimmy, 9-5. Modernist – Rudy Rodriguez / Manny Franco – 4: 2-0-1 - $178,600. Talk to Me Jimmy is the second son of Modernist in the Peter Pan. As a 2-year-old, he won his second start against New York-breds in November at Aqueduct. His first start of 2026 was a runaway victory in the Withers on the Kentucky Derby trail going the nine-furlong distance. Two months later he pressed the pace in the Wood Memorial (G2) but faded badly to finish eighth in the field of 12, which included the longshot third-place finisher in the run for the roses. Win contender. 

6. Gulfy, 8-1. Constitution – Gustavo Rodriguez / Kendrick Carmouche – 7: 2-1-0 - $83,660. Gulfy needed six starts at Aqueduct to get his maiden victory. His first four races were in maiden special weights, where a fourth-place finish was his best. This year he dropped into the maiden claiming ranks and won for a $50,000 tag while racing on the lead going a mile. Gulfy was claimed that day and came back for the new connections to win a starter allowance by head in a tightly contested stretch run. Toss.

Summary: Chad Brown will try to win the Peter Pan for the fourth time with Growth Equity. Although he has only a maiden victory in his record, his last two starts earned speed figures that are at the top of this field. Talk to Me Jimmy disappointed in the Wood Memorial after he ran away from the field in the Withers. Trendsetter has an experience edge in this group, with six stakes races that includes a victory in the Lexington (G3).  

The morning line has Growth Equity as a heavy favorite and rightfully so with the connections of Chad Brown and Flavien Prat, who joined up to win the Peter Pan last year. Trendsetter ran the best race of his career last month, winning the final race on the Kentucky Derby trail. He could be the third choice in this field of five even though he has the most wins and earnings. Trendsetter is the top pick in the Peter Pan.