The Triple Crown races pretty-much dominate the headlines in regard to 3-year-old racehorses every spring.

But cozied up between the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes is the Peter Pan Stakes.

The 1 1/8-mile, $200,000 dollar Peter Pan warrants some attention as it’s an important race in the Stakes division and often acts as a pathway to the Belmont Stakes for the horses that did not participate in the Kentucky Derby.

This year’s edition drew 10 entrants, including several coming out of prep races on the Triple Crown trail as well as a handful of promising prospects making their Stakes debut Saturday at Belmont @ the Big A. 

Here is a brief look at the field:

1. VASSIMO [ML 5-1] Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. After two impressive races at the start of his career, he tried the Kentucky Derby trail and was off-the-board and well-beaten in the Risen Star and the Louisiana Derby. The Peter Pan doesn’t have much speed, so he should be better positioned early and could be a threat if he runs his best.

2. HAPPILY DELUSIONAL [ML 20-1] Jockey: Paco Lopez. Trainer: Louis Linder Jr. One Win in eight starts and is unplaced in his only two tries in Stakes races- one at Parx in March and the other at Laurel in April. He faces stiffer competition here and his speed figures seem to indicate he’s bitten off more that he can chew.

3. SURFSIDE MOON [ML 8-1] Jockey: Junior Alvarado. Trainer: James Lawrence. Ran well at this track and distance when 2nd to Peter Pan opponent CAPTAIN COOK in the Withers Stakes back in February. But there was a backslide as he was beaten by 3 ¼ lengths in the Federico Tesio Stakes April 19th at Laurel Park.

4. HILL ROAD [ML 5-2] Jockey: Flavien Prat. Trainer: Chad Brown. A deep closer, he got noticed when he rallied for 3rd at odds of 61-1 in the 2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. In his 3-year-old debut he finished 3rd once again in the Tampa Bay Derby. Seems likely to improve in his second race of the year, but there is not much speed entered here which would set up his closing kick.

5. McAFEE [ML 8-1] Jockey: John Velazquez. Trainer: Rick Dutrow Jr. He finished 5th in both the Gotham and Wood Memorial Stakes after showing some aptitude with a Win and a 2nd in two starts as a 2-year-old. Speed figures indicate that he should be competitive, but he was beaten by eighth lengths or more in his previous Stakes tries. Adding blinkers here, perhaps sharpening his focus.

6. UNCAGED [ML 8-1] Jockey: Kendrick Carmouche. Trainer: Todd Pletcher. Moved forward in his most-recent start, going a mile on this main track- while overcoming some adversity on his way to a 1 ¾-length Win. Needs more improvement Saturday to Win his Stakes debut… and there is room for him to do just that in his 3rd start of the year and the 4th race of his career.

7. FIRST PITCH [ML 50-1] Jockey: Jose Lezcano. Trainer: Jose Jimenez.  He was beaten by more than 30 lengths against New York-breds in the first two races of his career before posting a front-running 4 ½-length upset at odds of 50-1 odds in his third try at this track and distance. A vast step-up in class, he’s not facing state-bred nonwinners in the Peter Pan. Balking on this one.

8. CAPTAIN COOK [ML 2-1] Jockey: Manny Franco. Trainer: Rick Dutrow Jr. Comes into the Peter Pan off a dismal 4th-place finish as the favorite in the Wood Memorial, where he faded late. Two races back he Won the Withers on this track and distance by 2 ¼ lengths? Which version of CAPTAIN COOK sets sail on Saturday?

9. BRERETON’S BAYTOWN [ML 50-1] Jockey: Marshall Mendez. Trainer: Paul McEntee. On paper he doesn’t appear fast enough to play even a minor role here. He was beaten by 18 ¼ lengths in the Arkansas Derby and by 11 ¾ length in the Rebel Stakes. Toss, with extreme prejudice.

10. LORDSHIP [ML 12-1] Jockey: Dylan Davis. Trainer: Chad Brown. This son of (a) GUN RUNNER Won his debut March 22nd at Tampa Bay Downs in a one-mile and 40-yard Maiden race. Despite a poor start that day he showed some tenacity and finished strong in a professional performance.

The Peter Pan Stakes is the final race on a card of 11 with a scheduled post Time of 6:45.

Best of luck however you choose to play it.