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We the People Romps in Peter Pan

The son of Constitution now is a potential starter for the Belmont Stakes (G1).

We the People splashes to victory under Flavien Prat in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park

We the People splashes to victory under Flavien Prat in the Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park

Coglianese Photos

At a time when the field for the May 21 Preakness Stakes (G1) is falling into place, the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) picked up an interesting contender from a time-honored spot.

WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH, and Siena Farm's We the People rolled to a lopsided 10 1/4-length victory in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds, Belmont Park's May 14 steppingstone to the June 11 "Test of the Champion."

"The Belmont Stakes is a consideration for sure. The way he galloped out and the way he handled the mile-and-an-eighth, it's something to consider," said Elliott Walden, CEO, president, and racing manager of WinStar Farm. "He's out of a Tiznow mare, like Tiz the Law  (the 2020 Belmont Stakes winner), and is a big, imposing horse. We'll finalize plans next week."

Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, We the People's tour de force in the Peter Pan put aside the disappointment of a seventh-place finish in the April 2 Arkansas Derby (G1), which ended his Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) hopes and was his first loss in three career starts.

The bay son of Constitution 's early speed worked against him at Oaklawn Park when he came out washy and then was carried wide on the first turn and never entered serious contention.

"We've always been very high on him," Walden said after We the People's first stakes win. "We were disappointed in the Arkansas Derby. We understood it, but we had to take a deep breath because we thought we going to go on to the Kentucky Derby. It was nice to see him vindicate himself."

That speed was a huge asset in the one-turn 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan as jockey Flavien Prat had We the People on the lead by 1 1/2 lengths after a quarter-mile in :23.66 over a good, sealed racetrack.

We the People wins the 2022 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park
Photo: Coglianese Photos/Dom Napolitano
We the People cruises to a frontrunning win in the Peter Pan Stakes

Ahead by only a length over Klaravich Stables' Electability after six furlongs in 1:11.25, the produce of the Tiznow mare Letchworth, poured it on—motoring to a seven-length lead at the eighth pole and extending it from there.

Gary Barber, Manfred Conrad, and Penny Conrad's Golden Glider, a Ghostzapper  colt trained by Mark Casse, passed a few horses to grab second by a nose over Electability, a son of Quality Road  trained by Chad Brown.

"We know how good he is, he's just his own enemy sometimes just because he's a little cocky. Today was good. He got a little warm in the paddock and we gave him a shower and you could see he kind of relaxed and was drying up," Brisset said. "I thought the warmup was good compared to Arkansas. Of course, if we bring one all the way here it's because we thought he had a shot to do that. He can run on anything. He's one of those kinds."

A winner of maiden and allowance optional claiming races at Oaklawn by a combined 10 3/4 lengths in his first two starts, We the People was bred by Henley Farms and bought by WinStar for $230,000 from the Eddie Woods consignment at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Florida Select 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. 

He is the first winner from six foals for Letchworth, who also has a 2-year-old Always Dreaming  colt that was bought this year by Larry Hirsch for $220,000 from the S B M Training and Sales consignment at the Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training, and a yearling Audible  colt.

For Prat, We the People was one of two stakes wins on an afternoon when he earlier received a three-day suspension (May 21-22 and 27) for his ride in the fourth race at Belmont Park May 1.

He also won the Beaugay Stakes (G3T) with Peter Brant and Michael Tabor's Rougir for trainer Chad Brown immediately after the Peter Pan and closed the card with three straight wins.

"Today, he broke well and got me into the race," Prat said about We the People. "I wanted a clean trip and to be in the clear and see what he could do from there. He responded really well."

The big question, of course, is how We the People will handle the extra three furlongs of a 1 1/2-mile trip around Belmont Park in the final leg of the Triple Crown.

"You never know until you run further, but it seemed like it could be good for him," Prat said. "He was absolutely fine on the wet track."

The 5-2 second choice, We the People ($7.90) covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.27.

Brisset also trains Western River, who was fourth, a neck behind Electability.

Set Sail, a West Coast shipper saddled by Hall of Famer Richard Mandella, was third after a half-mile but faded to sixth as the 2-1 favorite in the field of eight. He was coming off a 7 1/2-length maiden win at Santa Anita Park.

Video: Peter Pan S. (G3)