The field for Saturday's GIII Peter Pan S. at Aqueduct has been reduced from eight to six, with the connections of both 'TDN Rising Star' Tuscan Gold (Medaglia d'Oro) and Lonesome Boy (Nationhood) opting for other age-restricted spots. Daily Racing Form's David Grening was first to report the news.
William Lawrence, Walmac Farm and Stonestreet Stables' Tuscan Gold is being rerouted for next Saturday's GI Preakness S., trainer Chad Brown confirmed to the Form. The $600,000 Keeneland September yearling was fourth to stablemate and recent GI Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) on debut before romping to 'Rising Star' honors when trying two turns for the first time at Gulfstream Jan. 31. He was most recently third to Sierra Leone and Derby fourth Catching Freedom (Constitution) in the GII Louisiana Derby Mar. 23. Tyler Gaffalione, who rode Sierra Leone in the Derby, will take the ride.
“My first instinct was to always run in the Preakness,” Brown told the Pimlico notes team. “I wanted to enter the Peter Pan to give myself some options. I wanted to look and survey the field and see who was actually going to show up in the Preakness. At the end of the day, the reward is so much greater if he were to run well in the Preakness going for a much bigger prize.”
Lonesome Boy will pass on the Peter Pan in favor of a much softer landing in Saturday's Long Branch S. on opening day at Monmouth Park. Victorious in the City of Brotherly Love S. at Parx Mar. 5, the Washington-bred was part of the early pace in the Apr. 6 GII Wood Memorial S. before weakening in the final furlong to be fourth, some 7 1/2 lengths behind Resilience (Into Mischief).
The Wine Steward (Vino Rosso) figures to go favored in the Peter Pan on the back of a comebacking second to Encino (Nyquist) in the GIII Stonestreet Lexington S. at Keeneland Apr. 13.
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