Belmont: Adios Charlie points to Peter Pan

The top three finishers from last Saturday’s Jerome Stakes all appear headed in different directions. The winner, Adios Charlie, is likely to make his next start in the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont on May 14. Astrology, the runner-up, is being considered for the Preakness at Pimlico on May 21, while third-place finisher Justin Phillip is being pointed to the Woody Stephens here on June 11.

Adios Charlie came out of his 2 1/2-length victory in the Jerome in good shape, according to trainer and part-owner Stanley Hough, who said the Peter Pan, at 1 1/8 miles, will give him more of a line on Adios Charlie’s distance capabilities.

“I’d rather see him stretch out a little bit, see where his best distance might be,’’ Hough said. “I was really encouraged the way he finished. It opens up a lot more doors if he could go the mile and an eighth.’’

Adios Charlie is not nominated to the Triple Crown and at a $100,000 supplemental fee it would be cost prohibitive to run him in either the Preakness or Belmont Stakes.

Astrology returned to Kentucky, where Steve Asmussen will evaluate the colt before making a final decision on where he runs next. Justin Phillip, also trained by Asmussen, remained in New York where the Woody Stephens, at seven furlongs on Belmont Day, makes perfect sense in light of the way the colt tired after making the lead at the eighth pole of the Jerome.