Peter Pan: Tomcito launches plan B

By Jenny Kellner /NYRA

When buyers at Keeneland’s September 2006 yearling sale looked at Tomcito, all they saw was an awkward, barrel-chested colt who, frankly, walked like a duck. When trainer Dante Zanelli Jr. looked at the son of Street Cry, he saw something more.

“I saw a Derby horse,” said Zanelli, who paid $7,500 for the colt and sent him to Peru, where he won four of five starts including the final two legs of the country’s Triple Crown, both Group 1 races. “His walk was not the prettiest, but he had such a nice stride.”

Tomcito was one of four who did not make the cut for the Kentucky Derby, but the final leg of racing’s Triple Crown is definitely on his schedule. Saturday, the big brown colt heads a field of nine 3-year-olds in the 55th edition of the $200,000 Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes at nine furlongs, a traditional prep for the $1 million Belmont Stakes on Saturday June 7. Also Saturday is the 33rd running of the $100,000-added Bold Ruler Handicap for three-year-olds and up.

“He’s been special since Day 1,” said Zanelli of Tomcito, who finished third in the Florida Derby behind Big Brown in his American debut, but then failed to earn enough money to enter the Derby when he finished sixth as the favorite in the Lexington Stakes at Keeneland. “The Lexington wasn’t that bad, considering he gave six pounds to everyone and the Polytrack was not to his liking. The ride wasn’t what we expected, either. He didn’t run a terrible race but he didn’t make any money.

“It’s too bad, because I think he would have run a heck of a race in the Derby.”

Bypassing the Preakness because of Pimlico’s reputation for tight turns, Zanelli next targeted the 1 ½-mile Belmont, a distance at which Tomcito has already won. Sent by Zanelli to his uncle in Peru after failing to find a taker, Tomcito began his career beating older horses at the age of two and then wrapped up his 2007 campaign with the Group 1 victories at a mile and a quarter and then a mile and a half at Monterico Racetrack in Peru.

“The bigger the track, the better,” said Zanelli. “We are hoping to have a good showing on Saturday that will set us up for the Belmont. That’s the goal.”

The Belmont Stakes is on the radar of several of the horses in the Peter Pan, notably Casino Drive, the Japanese sibling of the past two Belmont Stakes winners, Rags to Riches (2007) and Jazil (2006), and his stablemate, Spark Candle. Also going are Illinois Derby runner-up Golden Spikes and Cosmic, winner of two straight for Shug McGaughey, who trained last year’s Peter Pan winner, Sightseeing.

“His last three races have been pretty good,” said McGaughey of Cosmic, who broke his maiden going nine furlongs in Florida and then took an allowance at the same distance April 16 at Aqueduct. “We’ll see how he sizes up with these. At the point we are not aiming for the Belmont but it’s certainly up for discussion.”

Executive Fleet, who was second to Bustin Stones in the Grade 1 Carter Handicap, heads a field of seven for the Bold Ruler at six furlongs. Trained by Linda Rice, the five-year-old son of Northern Afleet has won two of his four starts this year, both optional claimers over the inner track at Aqueduct.

Also expected to attract support are Forefathers, fourth in the Grade 2 Commonwealth at Keeneland in his last start; Man of Danger, second to Sir Greeley in the Grade 3 Toboggan Handicap on March 8, and Callmetony, no worse than third in his last six starts.


Churchill dispute prompts deep purse cuts

From Churchill Downs

Churchill Downs has been forced to cut purses by 20 percent, effective Wednesday, May 14, because the Kentucky Horsemen’s Benevolent and Protective Association (“KHBPA”) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association (“KTA”) have blocked the distribution of Churchill Downs’ simulcast signal to national advance-deposit wagering (“ADW”) sites, including TwinSpires.com., the official ADW site for Churchill Downs Inc.

“We have been left with no option but to reduce overnight purses to offset the amount of lost handle because Kentucky horsemen have prevented horse racing fans from wagering through ADW platforms,” said Churchill Downs President Steve Sexton. “We are disappointed because the failure to send the signal will negatively impact the product both on and off the racetrack. While we are still hopeful this impasse can be resolved, we have no choice but to act now.”

KHBPA and KTA representatives continue to reject all offers from Churchill Downs and recently instructed further discussions be conducted with the Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Group, an alliance of horsemen’s groups from around the country.

“Since Churchill Downs’ entry into the ADW business in 2007, we have nearly doubled host fees paid by ADW businesses to our racetracks and horsemen partners through successful negotiations with local horsemen. Kentucky horsemen and the THG are now demanding even more, but their plan is simply not feasible for ADW companies, including TwinSpires.com,” said Sexton. “As the result of over $3 million in online marketing we’ve spent so far this year, we have added 13,000 new TwinSpires.com customers and have added $25 million in new deposits. We would like those customers to be able to wager those funds on Churchill Downs races, but the KHBPA and KTA have refused to allow us to do so.”

The Churchill Downs’ purse reductions will affect overnight purses, with potential for fall meet stakes race purses to be reduced.