Zipse: Antiquarian is moving forward ahead of Belmont

Is Antiquarian sitting on a big one? We’ll find out in less than two weeks when the up-and-coming son of Preservationist swings for the fences against a stacked field in the Belmont Stakes on June 8.

Fresh off a win in the Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes, the Centennial Farms-owned colt seems to be moving in the right direction in advance of the big test, which will be run at Saratoga at 1 1/4-miles because of construction and renovation at Belmont Park.

The Peter Pan certainly has been a productive prep for the Belmont Stakes over the years. Strong horses from my earlier days of following the sport, such as Coastal, Danzig Connection, Colonial Affair and Lemon Drop Kid, used the nine-furlong race as a launching pad for success in the final leg of the Triple Crown in their next race.

In the last five years alone, Sir Winston and Arcangelo pointed out how good the Peter Pan can be as a prep for the Belmont. With the Peter Pan run at Aqueduct and the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, it remains to be seen whether this year will show another strong connection between the two races, but still Antiquarian is an interesting horse.

Much like Arcangelo last year, Antiquarian gives every indication of being a lightly raced colt who is figuring things out quickly after being not quite ready for the Kentucky Derby. The Todd Pletcher trainee also looks to be a horse who will appreciate the longer distance of the Belmont.

In his fourth career start, he looked solid in rallying past multiple stakes winner The Wine Steward in the Peter Pan two weeks ago, which was completed in racehorse time of 1:48.99.

The win at Aqueduct was the second in four starts for Antiquarian, who has raced at a mile or longer in each of his races. It also was a clear step forward early in his racing career.

Purchased by Centennial Farms for $250,000 at the 2022 Keeneland September yearling sale, Antiquarian was unraced at 2. He received an education in his career debut when second going a mile at Gulfstream Park, having been bumped in two stages of the Jan. 13 race.

Five weeks later he won a 1 1/16-mile maiden race at Fair Grounds by a length over a next-out winner. Armed with only those two maiden runs, Antiquarian left the kiddie pool and was asked to face a deep field in the $1 million Louisiana Derby (G2). He could manage only a mid-pack, sixth-place finish, but his performance was much better than it looks on paper.

Things began the wrong way for the chestnut colt in the Louisiana Derby when he broke through the gate prior to the start. Soon after reloading, he was bumped right out of the gate. Lacking room turning for home, he ran on well in the 1 3/16-mile race to be beaten four lengths by the good winner Catching Freedom.

Things were different in the Peter Pan. He acted like a more mature racehorse before the race and was comfortable during the race under rider John Velazquez before wearing down a classy rival in the final furlong.

Having returned to the work tab with a solid four-furlong move over the Belmont Park training track Friday, the Preservationist colt appears to have bounced back from the Peter Pan in fine fettle. He was shipped to Saratoga on Saturday to prepare for his assignment in the $2 million Belmont.

The win in the Peter Pan by Antiquarian gave Pletcher his fifth victory in the race. Going into this year’s race, the Hall of Fame trainer has won the final leg of the Triple Crown four times, first with the filly Rags to Riches and most recently with Mo Donegal two years ago.

Pletcher will have one to three others besides Antiquarian in this year’s test. The juvenile champion and beaten Kentucky Derby favorite Fierceness will look to rebound after his disappointment at Churchill Downs.

Pletcher also could be represented by the highly regarded Mindframe and the Peter Pan third-place finisher Protective in a field that is expected to feature the Kentucky Derby runner-up Sierra Leone, the Preakness winner Seize the Grey, and either Mystik Dan or Thorpedo Anna from trainer Kenny McPeek.

The 10-furlong Belmont Stakes at Saratoga promises to be a strong field. There certainly will be horses in the field with stronger credentials than Antiquarian, but the developing colt is coming to the race in the right way. He should not be ignored.