2024 Belmont Stakes Contenders: ANTIQUARIAN

For 3-year-olds starting to round into form and did not run in the first two legs of the Triple Crown, a solid effort in the 1 1 /8-mile Peter Pan could move them into Belmont consideration.

Such is the case with Antiquarian, who won the Peter Pan at Aqueduct on May 11, and is one of three Todd-Pletcher trained Belmont contenders.

Seven 3-year-olds have won the Peter Pan and the Belmont, including Arcangelo in 2023. Can Antiquarian, after just four races (like Arcangelo) make it two sweeps in a row?

There is one major difference: The seven who completed the Peter Pan-Belmont double did so when the races were run at Belmont Park. With the track being rebuilt, the Peter Pan was run at Aqueduct, and the Belmont on June 8 is at Saratoga Race Course.

Nonetheless, the chestnut colt has solid credentials with two wins and a second in four starts. Plus, Hall of Fame jockey John Velazquez will be aboard since Fierceness is not running.

He was second by a half-length in his debut at Gulfstream Park on Jan. 13 going a mile. He pressed the pace over a sloppy track at the Fair Grounds on Feb. 17 and won at 1 1/16 miles by a length. Next up: the Louisiana Derby, a race in which he broke through the starting gate early, was declared fit to race, but after stalking the pace around the far turn on the outside he ended up sixth – beaten four lengths by Catching Freedom (fourth in the Derby, third in the Preakness).

In the Peter Pan, Antiquarian followed the leaders in third under Velazquez. He finished up strong, running past 6-5 favorite The Wine Steward for a three-quarter length victory.

“I thought his Peter Pan was back to what we were thinking he’s capable of doing,” Pletcher said. “He’s another one I think the mile and a quarter suits.”

Betting advice: Going 1 ¼ miles doesn’t appear to be an issue, but going against the Derby winner, the Preakness winner, and Sierra Leone may be asking too much. Thought here: Live longshot.

Post position: TBD

Odds: TBD

Jockey: John Velazquez

Trainer: Todd Pletcher

Owner:  Centennial Farms

Career record: 4-2-1-0

Career earnings: $173,000

Most recent race: Peter Pan, May 11 (1^st)

Top Equibase speed figure: 101

Pedigree: Preservationist-Lifetime Memory, Istan

Color: Chestnut

Running style: Off the pace

Notes: Owners Centennial Farms has been a racing operation since 1982. It is run by Don Little, Jr., the son of founder Don Little. They owned 1993 Belmont winner Colonial Affair … Pletcher is seeking his fifth Belmont; he also plans to send out Mindframe and Protective … Velazquez has been aboard Antiquarian for all four starts.