As much as the $194,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3) is New York's steppingstone race to the Belmont Stakes (G1), the victorious Growth Equity may not be taking that big step.
Trainer Chad Brown was noncommittal about the final jewel in the Triple Crown after Klaravich Stables' Nyquist colt drew away to a 2-length victory in the 1 1/8-mile stakes race for 3-year-olds at Aqueduct Racetrack, expressing some concern about the added furlong in the Belmont.
"I'll talk to Seth (Klarman, Klaravich owner). Talking to (jockey Flavien Prat), he wasn't against more ground, but we both need to unpack it a bit later on," Brown said. "It's tough to say. He handled a mile and an eighth well, but he didn't scream to me like he wanted more ground. So I am not in a hurry to get him out to a mile and a quarter in the Belmont. You can't say 'No, we won't go,' but you're not buying your Belmont box either."
The victory, which netted Growth Equity free entry and starting fees for the Belmont Stakes, marked a steady advancement for the colt, who came into the Peter Pan off three starts in the maiden ranks: seconds at 6 furlongs and 7 furlongs, and a win at a one-turn mile.
"I was cautiously optimistic he would handle the mile and an eighth. He's very athletic and well made," Brown said. "It's a nice win, but where does he fit? How far does he want to go? He answered this, but I don't think he let you know for sure about the next step.
"There are a lot of mile-and-an-eighth races that are just fine."
Withers Stakes winner Talk to Me Jimmy set the pace in the Peter Pan, reeling off fractions of :23.80 and :48.35, while Prat kept Growth Equity fourth in the small field of five.
Moving smoothly on the turn, the son of the Wildcat Heir mare My Dear Venezuela collared Talk to Me Jimmy at the top of the stretch and edged away. A New York-bred son of Modernist owned by SEI Thoroughbreds, Michael Imperio, and trainer Rudy Rodriguez, Talk to Me Jimmy kept battling but Growth Equity stayed clear and crossed the finish line in 1:50.25 and paid $4.04 as the even-money favorite.
"We fought, but it's tough being on the lead," Rodriguez said.
Lexington Stakes (G3) winner Trendsetter was 3 1/4 lengths back of Talk to Me Jimmy in third. The second and third finishers also receive free entry and starting fees for the Belmont.
Bred by Stone Farm in Kentucky, Growth Equity was bought for $425,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Video: Peter Pan S. (G3)
Irish Maxima prevails in Ruffian
Irish Three Racing's Irish Maxima used her sharp early speed perfectly in the $200,000 Ruffian Stakes (G2), dashing away to a 6-length lead at the quarter pole and then hanging on to hold off a late bid by Lane's End's Cassiar to prevail by a length in the mile stakes for older fillies and mares.
Trained by John Servis, the Parx Racing-based Maximus Mischief mare posted a third straight victory under regular rider Frankie Pennington. Those two previous wins were by a combined 10 3/4 lengths in allowance optional claimers.
Bred by Pillar Property Services in Kentucky out of the Out of Place mare Palace Pier, she posted her 11th win in 18 career starts.
A $50,000 purchase at the 2023 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale, she has now earned $756,318.
Klaravich Stables' Inefficiency, the 8-5 favorite, was third.
After covering the first 6 furlongs in 1:09.22, the final time for the mile was 1:36.51 on a good track.
Video: Ruffian S. (G2)
Durante proves best in Nerud
A race earlier, owner/trainer David Jacobson's Durante pressed the early pace and then outdueled Acoustic Ave in the final yards to take the $175,000 John A. Nerud Stakes (G3) by a neck.
The 7-year-old Distorted Humor gelding was coming off a runner-up finish to Illuminare in an allowance optional claimer at Keeneland.
A. Bianco Holding's Acoustic Ave was second in the sprint stakes for older runners with Full Moon Madness third. One Nine Hundred, the 4-5 favorite, was fifth in the field of six.
Durante ($16.50), a million-dollar earner bred by William Humphries and Altair Farms, was clocked in 1:10.45 for the 6 furlongs over a good, sealed track.
