Modernist Sets Sights on Peter Pan Victory

Martin and Pam Wygood homebred Modernist will make his Saratoga Race Course debut July 16 when he faces an expected field of eight other 3-year-olds in the $100,000 Peter Pan Stakes (G3). 

With only six career starts to his name, Modernist enters the Peter Pan off a seventh-place finish in the June 20 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1) at Belmont Park. The Bill Mott trainee overcame brief contact with other horses in the field at the break of the shortened classic race, an incident that jockey Junior Alvarado is hopeful the colt will not repeat Thursday. 

"A mile-and-an-eighth is a good distance for him, but I think last time only going one turn he was a little confused and he was switching his leads back and forth in the race," Alvarado said. "I think that threw him off his game. Going back to two turns and a little bit of an easier group this time, he should be very competitive."

Modernist most recently breezed four furlongs in :49.55 July 12 on Belmont's training track in preparation for the Peter Pan. Alvarado will break on Modernist from post 3. 

A victory in the 1 1/8-mile dirt test would be an important coup for the son of Uncle Mo  as it offers 50 qualifying points toward the Sept. 5 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). Combined with his 50 points earned for his victory in a division of the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes Presented by Lamarque Ford (G2) plus 20 points for his third-place finish in the March 21 Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G3) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, a win in the Peter Pan could catapult the colt from seventh to third on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard. 

"I think he likes when you're aggressive with him and he gets to sit one-two and be more of a game horse," Alvarado said. "He gives you more of a fight when he's near the lead. I'm hoping we can get him back in the form he showed at Fair Grounds."

Trainer Mike Stidham will send out Mystic Guide in the Peter Pan for owner/breeder Godolphin. The race will be the first step up to graded stakes company for the Ghostzapper  colt who broke his maiden March 21 at Fair Grounds. Mystic Guide finished second in his most recent start, a June 4 allowance race at Belmont Park over 1 1/16 miles. Stidham hopes the extra distance will help his lightly raced colt find a better pace. 

"We knew going in we were at a little disadvantage. Our horse is more of a two-turn, mile-and-an-eighth type horse than a one-turn horse," Stidham said. "The horse that won stole away on the lead and we kicked in late. We were making up ground at the end and he galloped out real big.

"We were pleased with his effort given that a one-turn mile-and-a-sixteenth isn't really his cup of tea. I think the extra distance gives him a better chance. He doesn't come from too far back, but he has a good run when he kicks into gear and I think the Saratoga course will suit him well, finishing how he does."

Mystic Guide will break from post 6 with Jose Ortiz in the irons. 

Also looking for his first graded stakes score is Mathis Stable's Candy Tycoon. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the son of Twirling Candy  broke his maiden Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park before running second next out in the Feb. 29 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at the Florida track. 

The bay colt did not fare so well next out, running off the board in the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby (G1). Candy Tycoon returned to better form almost a month later at Oaklawn Park, where he finished a credible second to Rushie in a May 2 allowance level race at 1 1/16 miles. John Velazquez will have the call on Candy Tycoon from post 5. 

Under current New York State guidelines, Saratoga will open without spectators. The Peter Pan will offer qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby in increments of 50-20-10-5 to the first four finishers. 

Entries: Peter Pan S. (G3)

Saratoga Race Course, Thursday, July 16, 2020, Race 9

• Grade III
• 1 1/8m
• Dirt
• $100,000
• 3 yo
• 5:46 PM (local)

PP	Horse	Jockey	Wgt	Trainer	M/L
1	1Mo Hawk (KY)	Joel Rosario	118	Rodolphe Brisset	20/1
2	2Country Grammer (KY)	Irad Ortiz, Jr.	118	Chad C. Brown	7/2
3	3Modernist (KY)	Junior Alvarado	123	William I. Mott	7/2
4	4Celtic Striker (KY)	Manuel Franco	120	Raymond Handal	12/1
5	5Candy Tycoon (KY)	John R. Velazquez	118	Todd A. Pletcher	5/1
6	6Mystic Guide (KY)	Jose L. Ortiz	118	Michael Stidham	5/2
7	7Caracaro (KY)	Javier Castellano	118	Gustavo Delgado	6/1
8	8Chestertown (NY)	Ricardo Santana, Jr.	118	Steven M. Asmussen	10/1
9	9Katzarelli (KY)	Dylan Davis	118	Thomas M. Amoss	30/1