Tonalist gives Clement another shot at Belmont Stakes

Eleven years after running Dynever in the Belmont Stakes against Empire Maker and Funny Cide, trainer Christophe Clement gets another crack at the third leg of the Triple Crown with Tonalist, convincing winner of Saturday’s Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes.

Dynever entered the Belmont off a win in the Lone Star Derby and was training well, Clement said, leading into the Belmont. However, Dynever did not handle the sloppy track and finished fourth behind Empire Maker.

Slop would not be an issue for Tonalist, who after bobbling at the break Saturday, cruised to the lead after the opening quarter and was never threatened thereafter. He won the Peter Pan by four lengths and was assigned a 101 Beyer.

“He was traveling very easily on the lead. I was surprised by the 46-and-change fraction, how easy he looked going that pace,” Clement said. “The most impressive thing was the eighth [pole] to the wire, the way he opened up again. He’s a nice horse. It’s exciting. He’s got the breeding to go with it. Tapit is our leading dirt sire. He’s out of a Pleasant Colony mare, which gives you plenty of stamina.”