Arcangelo gives Castellano another talented 3-year-old option
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ELMONT, N.Y. – Jockey Javier Castellano is starting to stockpile talented 3-year-olds.
One week after winning the Kentucky Derby aboard Mage, Castellano guided Arcangelo to a head victory over Bishops Bay in Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park.
The Peter Pan is the traditional prep for the Belmont Stakes here on June 10. While it’s not yet certain Arcangelo will run in the Belmont, Castellano may have a prior commitment if Mage were to win the Preakness next Saturday at Pimlico.
Regardless, of where he may run next, Arcangelo showed some grit, stepping up out of a maiden victory to outfight two-time winner Bishops Bay through a stirring final three-sixteenths stretch run. At one point, inside the sixteenth pole, Bishops Bay seemed to open up a half-length on Arcangelo, who fought back to put his head down on the wire first.
Castellano had ridden Arcangelo to his maiden victory at Gulfstream Park on March 18 and he felt he may have that day rushed the horse into contention. Saturday, he let the horse get into his stride and was sixth, albeit just 2 3/4 lengths of the pace, which was established by Asmodeus and pressed by Bishops Bay.
Henry Q joined the fray three-wide around the turn and Castellano had Arcangelo on the move four-wide turning for home.
Bishops Bay came into the stretch with the lead, but Arcangelo drew alongside at the three-sixteenths pole. Inside the sixteenth pole, it looked like Bishops Bay was opening up, but Arcangelo came right back.
“I tried to race ride a little bit, intimidate a little bit, put him on top of that horse, but [Bishops Bay] is a fighter, he come back again, mine as well,” Castellano said. “When I asked, he kept going and when he galloped out, he kept going. The farther the better.”
Farther might mean 1 1/2 miles in the Belmont Stakes. However, trainer Jena Antonucci said the key to Arcangelo’s development has been the patience owner Jon Ebbert has displayed to this point and she was noncommittal about a start in the third leg of the Triple Crown.
“It’s all been about education and him maturing and figuring out who he is, he’s still a kid figuring it out,” Antonucci said. “We’ll stay out of his way and see how he comes out of this and if it’s the beginning of June, it’s the beginning of June, if it’s in July it’s in July. He’ll tell us.”
Arcangelo is a son of Arrogate, the 2016 Travers winner who died in 2020. Arcangelo’s third dam is Better Than Honour, who produced Belmont Stakes winners Rags to Riches, Jazil, and 2008 Peter Pan winner Casino Drive.
As the owner of a talented and now a stakes-winning son of Arrogate, Ebbert had and will continue to field calls from folks wanting to buy Arcangelo. He has no plans to sell.
“One-of-a-kind-horse, we’re not going to get another one, we love the horse, we love his heart, he’s all business,” Ebbert said.
Florent Geroux, the rider of Bishops Bay, said his horse is not all business yet.
“He’s very spotty when he runs,” Geroux said. “Two previous starts, the same thing – it looks like he’s got it, but he doesn’t run away from the other horses. I just wish he would put his head down and focus a little more and try a bit harder.”
Bishops Bay finished 8 3/4 lengths clear of Henry Q. The top three finishers of the Peter Pan get their entry and starter fees paid for the Belmont Stakes waived.
Classic Catch finished fourth, followed by Go Soldier Go, Summer Cause, Asmodeus, and Game Change. Slip Mahoney scratched.
Arcangelo covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.71 and returned $7.50 as the second choice. He was given a 97 Beyer Speed Figure.
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