Diamond King considered for Peter Pan, Preakness Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – By virtue of his victory in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel on April 21, Diamond King secured a fees-paid berth in the $1.5 million Preakness Stakes at Pimlico on May 19.

While his connections are still considering the Preakness, on Wednesday they entered Diamond King in Saturday’s Grade 3, $350,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park. The Peter Pan is run at 1 1/8 miles around one turn.

Chuck Zacney, whose Cash Is King Stable is a co-owner of Diamond King, said Wednesday, “We’re at the enter-and-to-be-determined stage.”

Diamond King, trained by John Servis, was one of eight 3-year-olds entered in the Peter Pan, which typically produces at least one starter for the Belmont Stakes on June 9. Zacney said he does not have any intention of running Diamond King in the Belmont.

The other owners are Jonathan and Leonard Green’s D J Racing and Glenn Bennett’s LC Racing.

Javier Castellano is named to ride Diamond King in the Peter Pan, but Castellano has not given a commitment to ride him in the Preakness.

The only stakes winners in the Peter Pan field are High North, who won the Northern Spur Stakes at Oaklawn in his last start; Blended Citizen, the winner of the Jeff Ruby Stakes at Turfway Park in March; and Gotta Go, the winner of the Street Sense Stakes at Churchill. Completing the field are Core Beliefs, third to Justify in the Santa Anita Derby; Zing Zang, ninth in the Blue Grass last out; Just Whistle; and Transistor.

One horse not entered in the Peter Pan was Ax Man, a recent allowance winner trained by Bob Baffert, who also trains Kentucky Derby winner Justify. On Sunday, Baffert had said Ax Man was being pointed to the Peter Pan.