Intrepid Heart seeks first stakes win in Curlin

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Intrepid Heart, third as the favorite in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes and eighth in the Belmont Stakes, was one of nine entered Sunday for Friday’s $100,000 Curlin Stakes at Saratoga. The Curlin, restricted to 3-year-olds who have not won a graded stakes over a mile this year, typically produces a starter or two for the Travers Stakes.

Intrepid Heart, a son of Tapit, had won his first two starts going into the Peter Pan, where he was sent off the even-money favorite. He stumbled at the start and ultimately finished third behind Global Campaign and Sir Winston. Sir Winston came back to win the Belmont Stakes, while Intrepid Heart finished five lengths behind him.

“He ran evenly all the way around there. You look up at the end of the race, and there’s a lot of horses pretty close to each other,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He didn’t run great; he didn’t run poorly. The Peter Pan appears to be a key race. Hopefully, he’ll take a step forward.”

Intrepid Heart will break from the rail under John Velazquez.

Outside of Intrepid Heart is Cairo Cat, who hasn’t run since taking the Grade 3 Iroquois Stakes at Churchill Downs last September. The remainder of the field includes Looking At Bikinis, Gumps Little Tots, Rowayton, Direct Order, Endorsed, Highest Honors, and Mo Gotcha.

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