A field of nine sophomores, including the field’s lone graded winner Modernist (Uncle Mo), will line up for Thursday’s GIII Peter Pan S. on Saratoga’s opening day program.
Traditionally run as a prep downstate for the GI Belmont S., the Peter Pan was moved to Saratoga as a potential prep for this summer’s GI Runhappy Travers S. The Peter Pan carries 85 qualifying points (50-20-10-5) toward the GI Kentucky Derby.
Modernist, a 12-1 upset winner of the split-division GII Risen Star S. Feb. 15, followed a third-place finish in the GII TwinSpires.com Louisiana Derby Mar. 21 with a seventh-place finish in the GI Belmont S. June 20.
Mystic Guide (Ghostzapper) earned ‘TDN Rising Star’ honors in an impressive maiden breaker going two turns at second asking at Fair Grounds Mar. 21, then was second behind Tap It to Win (Tapit) in a quickly run optional claimer going a one-turn 1 1/16 miles at Belmont Park last time June 4.
Fellow ‘Rising Star’ Caracaro (Uncle Mo) returns in this ambitious spot while making his first start since a six-length graduation going a one-turn mile at Gulfstream Jan. 11.
Candy Tycoon (Twirling Candy), a well-beaten second in the GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. Feb. 29, was a late-running second behind subsequent GII Toyota Blue Grass S. third Rushie (Liam’s Map) in an optional claimer last time at Oaklawn May 2.
The post Saratoga Meet Kicks off with Shifted Peter Pan appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.