In the final local prep for the GI Belmont S., Arcangelo (Arrogate) found the wire just in time to secure his first stakes win in the 69th running of the GIII Peter Pan S.
With only three prior starts, all at Gulfstream Park, the gray colt debuted second sprinting in the slop Dec. 17 before running fourth behind subsequent GII Louisiana Derby victor Kingsbarns (Uncle Mo) going a mile Jan. 14. Facing older maidens for the first time at the same distance Mar. 18, the 2-1 shot cleared in the stretch to graduate by 3 1/2 lengths with new rider Javier Castellano aboard.
After a sharp workout May 3 at Belmont (:59.78, 1/5), the 5-2 second choice here trailed early along the fence as longshot Asmodeus (Cairo Prince) and 'TDN Rising Star' Bishops Bay (Uncle Mo) battled up front. Under a moderate pace into the far turn with Henry Q (Blame) joining the fray, Arcangelo shifted to the outside, launching a four-wide bid. At the top of the stretch, as Bishops Bay tried to stride away, the Jena Antonucci trainee clearly had more left in the tank. Taking aim at his rival past the eighth pole, the pair locked in a duel that ended with Arcangelo putting his head at the wire.
“The horse is just built different,” said Antonucci. “I know that sounds so cliché, but it's my job–our job–to stay out of his way. Mr. Ebbert [owner] has done a great job to give the horse time and let him mature. He's a May foal. We never had a focus on doing early season. We let the horse grow and mature and here we are.”
Concerning a start in the GI Belmont S., the trainer said, “There's a conversation. We have no plan yet. Ground has never been a problem, that's why we waited as long as we did.”
She went on to say, “He breezed at Saratoga last summer, but we were never intending to run up there. It's all been about education and him maturing and figuring out who he is. He's still a kid figuring it out. We'll stay out of his way and see how he comes out of this.”
Pedigree Notes:
The impact of Arrogate continues after his untimely death with Arcangelo becoming his sixth graded stakes winner. Second dam Teeming (Strom Cat) produced GISW Streaming (Smart Strike) and Achieving (Bernadini), who is the dam of MGSW Cezanne (Curlin). She is out of GSW Better Than Honour (Deputy Minister), who is responsible for several important graded stakes winners, including Peter Pan S. hero Casino Drive (Mineshaft), Champion 3-year-old filly Rags To Riches (A.P. Indy) and GI Belmont S. victor Jazil (Seeking the Gold). The winner is his unraced dam's last recorded progeny.
Saturday, Belmont Park
PETER PAN S.-GIII, $200,000, Belmont, 5-13, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:49.71, ft.
1–ARCANGELO, 118, c, 3, by Arrogate
1st Dam: Modeling, by Tapit
2nd Dam: Teeming, by Storm Cat
3rd Dam: Better Than Honour, by Deputy Minister
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($35,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Blue Rose Farm; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Jena M. Antonucci; J-Javier Castellano. $110,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-1-0, $167,400. Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Bishops Bay, 118, c, 3, Uncle Mo–Catch My Drift, by
Pioneerof the Nile. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($450,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Spendthrift Farm LLC, Steve Landers, Martin S. Schwartz, Michael Dubb, Ten Strike Racing, Jim Bakke, Titletown Racing, LLC, Kueber Racing, LLC, Big Easy Racing LLC, Rick Kanter, Michael J. Caruso and WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $40,000.
3–Henry Q, 120, c, 3, Blame–Lunar Empress, by Malibu Moon. ($125,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-The Del Mar Group; B-Fred W. Hertrich lll & John D. Fielding (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $24,000.
Margins: HD, 8 3/4, 2. Odds: 2.75, 1.95, 9.10.
Also Ran: Classic Catch, Go Soldier Go, Summer Cause, Asmodeus, Game Change. Scratched: Slip Mahoney.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
