Peter Pan Win Sends Charitable Man to Belmont
Mythical Power Gives Bob Baffert Third Lone Star Derby Victory
May 10, 2009
Charitable Man and Mythical Power took different routes to the winner's circle this weekend. The former may have earned a ticket to the Triple Crown classic, the Belmont Stakes scheduled for June 6, while the latter got his second win in five starts.
Peter Pan Stakes Won by Charitable Man
Last season, Casino Drive used the 1-1/8 miles Peter Pan Stakes (G2) at Belmont Park as a warm-up to get ready to face Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes champion Big Brown in the Belmont Stakes. But in the end, Casino Drive was scratched from the Belmont with hoof difficulties, and Big Brown failed in his bid for Triple Crown number twelve.
Charitable Man was in the running for consideration in the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes, but was pointed instead to the May 9 $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park.
The Lemon Drop Kid colt early dismissed Hutcheson Stakes placer Hello Broadway and scored impressively over The Gotham runner-up Imperial Council by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:46.13 for his third win in four trips. Brave Victory went third, 1-3/4 lengths back of Imperial Council.
Charitable Man went to the wire first in the colt's first win since his recovery from a shin fracture. Alan Garcia helped the colt up his bankroll to $307,200.
Son of Lemon Drop Kid--Charitabledonation, by Saint Ballado, Charitable Man finished seventh in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes, where he took the track for the first time after rehabilitating from the injury.
Charitable Man has not responded well on Polytrack, according to trainer Kiaran McLaughlin. The colt's connections believe he will be more suited to the dirt. He is bred to get the distance of 1-1/2 miles in the Belmont. Charitable Man's owners are William K. Warren and Suzanne Warren.
Lemon Drop Kid triumphed in the 1999 Belmont Stakes over Charismatic, spoiling that colt's bid for the twelfth Triple Crown, as well.
Mythical Power Powers to Lone Star Win
Trainer Bob Baffert scored his third win in the $400,000 Lone Star Derby (G3) on May 9 with Mythical Power. His previous winners were Anet in 1997 and Wanna Runner in 2006.
Mythical Power, guided by veteran jockey Victor Espinoza, powered to a 7-1/2 length win in the Lone Star by easily dispatching the leading Red Lead on a fast track. The Congaree--School for Scandal, by Is It True colt cruised the 1-1/8 miles course in 1:49.79 to improve his earnings to $458,000.
Dumar went third, another 1-1/2 lengths behind Red Lead.
Mythical Power has two seconds and one third on his resume, as well. He was runner-up to Kelly Leak in the Sunland Derby March 29, where Kentucky Derby winner Mine That Bird finished fourth.
Peachtree Stable owns Mythical Power.
