Race Details
- Date: Saturday, May 10, 2025
- Time: 6:46 PM ET
- Venue: Belmont at the Big A
- Distance: 1 1/8 miles (Dirt)
- Purse: $200,000
- Eligible Horses: 3-year-olds
The Peter Pan Stakes serves as a key prep race for the Belmont Stakes, offering a competitive field of 10 promising three-year-olds. Several contenders in this race could use it as a stepping stone toward the final leg of the Triple Crown.
Contenders Overview
1. Vassimo (USA)
- Sire: Nyquist
- Dam: Bsharpsonata
- Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr.
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 4th in the Risen Star (G2), 6th in the Louisiana Derby (G2)
Vassimo started his career with two wins in Florida before stepping up to graded stakes competition. He struggled in Derby prep races but could benefit from the class relief here. Pletcher has won the Peter Pan five times, making him a strong contender.
2. Happily Delusional (USA)
- Sire: Flatter
- Dam: Tattersail
- Trainer: Louis Linder Jr.
- Jockey: Paco Lopez
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 4th in the Federico Tesio Stakes
Happily Delusional broke his maiden in his fifth start and has been competitive in allowance races. However, his speed figures suggest he may struggle against stronger competition.
3. Surfside Moon (USA)
- Sire: Malibu Moon
- Dam: Crescent Lady
- Trainer: James L. Lawrence II
- Jockey: Junior Alvarado
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 2nd in the Withers (G3), 3rd in the Federico Tesio Stakes
Surfside Moon has been inconsistent but has shown flashes of talent. His second-place finish in the Withers suggests he can handle this distance.
4. Hill Road (USA)
- Sire: Quality Road
- Dam: Exotic Notion
- Trainer: Chad Brown
- Jockey: Flavien Prat
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 3rd in the Tampa Bay Derby (G3)
Hill Road began his career in Ireland before moving to Chad Brown’s barn. He finished third in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and has shown strong closing ability.
5. McAfee (USA)
- Sire: Cloud Computing
- Dam: Sataves
- Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.
- Jockey: John Velazquez
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 1st in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park
McAfee is lightly raced but has shown promise. His pedigree suggests he could improve with distance.
6. Uncaged (USA)
- Sire: Curlin
- Dam: Dark Nile
- Trainer: Todd Pletcher
- Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 3rd in an allowance race at Keeneland
Uncaged is another Pletcher trainee with a strong pedigree. He has yet to win a stakes race but could improve here.
7. First Pitch (USA)
- Sire: Improbable
- Dam: Giant Blossom
- Trainer: Jose M. Jimenez
- Jockey: Jose Lezcano
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 5th in an allowance race at Aqueduct
First Pitch has struggled in stakes company and will need a major step forward to contend.
8. Captain Cook (USA)
- Sire: Practical Joke
- Dam: Pow Wow Wow
- Trainer: Richard Dutrow Jr.
- Jockey: Manuel Franco
- Weight: 120 lbs
- Recent Form: 1st in an allowance race at Aqueduct
Captain Cook enters as one of the favorites, having won his last race impressively. His pedigree suggests he could handle the distance.
9. Brereton’s Baytown (USA)
- Sire: Upstart
- Dam: Kika
- Trainer: Paul McEntee
- Jockey: Marshall Mendez
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 6th in an allowance race at Oaklawn Park
Brereton’s Baytown has struggled in stakes company and will need a major improvement.
10. Lordship (USA)
- Sire: Gun Runner
- Dam: Flag Day
- Trainer: Chad Brown
- Jockey: Dylan Davis
- Weight: 118 lbs
- Recent Form: 2nd in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park
Lordship has shown promise and could be a sleeper pick. Gun Runner’s progeny tend to improve with distance.
Race Prediction & Strategy
- Hill Road and Captain Cook appear to be the strongest contenders based on recent form and pedigree.
- Vassimo could challenge late, given Pletcher’s success in this race.
- Surfside Moon has the ability to hit the board.
- Lordship is a dark horse with potential upside.
