Peter Pan win propels Tonalist to Belmont Stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. - It was a bit of an ugly start, but a good-looking finish for Tonalist, who established himself as a prime contender for the June 7 Belmont Stakes with a four-length victory in Saturday’s Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at sloppy Belmont Park.

Commissioner, third in the Sunland Derby, finished second by 2 1/4 lengths over the maiden Irish You Well. He was followed, in order, by Tapicero, Our Caravan, and Fabulous Kid, who was eased across the wire.

It was the second win from four career starts for Tonalist, a son of Tapit who hadn’t been out since Feb. 22, when he finished second to Constitution in an allowance race at Gulfstream Park. Constitution, came back to win the Florida Derby, while Wicked Strong, fourth in that allowance race, came back to win the Wood Memorial.

Tonalist was pointing to the Wood before a lung infection and some foot issues prevented him from making that race.

Saturday, under Joel Rosario, Tonalist bobbled when the gates opened and was fifth a few strides out of the gate. Rosario guided him to the inside and Tonalist, seeing daylight took off, overtaking Fabulous Kid after a quarter-mile run in 23.79 seconds.

“As soon as they opened the gate he didn’t know where to put his feet,” Rosario said. “After that I helped him a little bit - he’s a little one-paced - to get him in the race and he took me there. He took me all the way to the lead.”

Tonalist, who had not shown that kind of speed in three previous races, then continued on through a half-mile in 46.83 seconds, six furlongs in 1:10.89, a mile in 1:35.63, and he covered the 1 1/8 miles over a sloppy track in 1:48.30. He returned $4.30 as the 6-5 favorite.

Christophe Clement, who trains Tonalist for Robert Evans, said the Belmont Stakes is likely next.

“Of course you have to think about the Belmont. We’re New York people. We’re at Belmont,” said Clement, who finished fourth in the 2003 Belmont with Dynever.

Clement said he was worried about the wet track and perhaps more concerned when Tonalist bobbled at the break.

“Joel was a bit more aggressive, which maybe was the reason why he showed so much speed,” Clement said. “[The bobble] may have affected me more than anybody else because I thought it was awful to look at.”

Clement said he was most impressed with the way Tonalist finished the race, after Commissioner made a mild run at him in upper stretch.

“What actually impressed me was the last eighth of a mile when he opens up again,” Clement said.

Tonalist will attempt to become the first horse to win both the Peter Pan and the Belmont Stakes since A.P. Indy did it in 1992. Since then, Colonial Affair (second in 1993 Peter Pan) and Lemon Drop Kid (third in 1999) came back to win the Belmont. In 2010, when the Dwyer replaced the Peter Pan on the calendar, Drosselmeyer finished second in it before winning the Belmont.

Commissioner, a son of A.P. Indy, is likely headed to the Belmont after finishing second on Saturday.

“I think so,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Certainly feel like he would handle the distance of a mile-and-a half. See how he comes out of it, but talking to” Elliott Walden, president of WinStar Farm, the owner of Commissioner, “initially, we’d be inclined to go to the Belmont if he’s doing well.”