Saturday, May 9, 2009

Charitable Man Wins Peter Pan

Belmont Park

Charitable Man ran down front running Hello Broadway in the upper stretch and then pulled away from Imperial Council to win the featured Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park today. Brave Victory passed a tiring Hello Broadway in mid stretch to claim the show spot.

Charitable Man, trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, was brilliant as a two year old in breaking his maiden with an 11 length win at Saratoga. He followed that up in the fall by winning the Grade II Belmont Futurity over Flying Pegasas and Fresian Fire who went off the post time favorite in the Kentucky Derby. After recovering from an injury which sidelined him for the winter, his first race back was a 7th place finish in the Grade I Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland but Charitable Man looked fantastic today. The Belmont Stakes seems a clear possibility for his next race.

The same can't be said for Imperial Council who for the 3rd straight race moved into position in the upper stretch but failed to close on the winner down the lane and he simply has not lived up to his potential as a 3 year old.