Look Back: Counterpoint Wins Peter Pan in Record Time

In conjunction with Tom Hall's Throwback Thursday features in BloodHorse Daily, BloodHorse.com each Thursday will present corresponding race stories from the pages of the magazine. 

This week is a stakes report headlined, "Counterpoint's Track Record" on the 1951 Peter Pan Stakes won by Counterpoint. Following is a BloodHorse staff report from the June 16, 1951 issue.

Counterpoint was foaled on April 5, 1948 (two days after his stablemate Mameluke) at the C.V. Whitney farm, Lexington. He started only twice last year at 2, earned a second and $700, but did not win. Off this showing he did not get a rating in the Experimental Free Handicap weights. 

But when he began his racing at Keeneland this spring, he showed signs of considerable ability. In his first start of the meeting (his second start of the year) he beat an allowance field by eight lengths, at six furlongs in the slop. A week later, racing against older horses in the Ben Ali Handicap, he set the pace for about seven furlongs and finished second to Wistful.

In his division of the Blue Grass Stakes he met interference and was moved from fourth place to third, through the disqualification of Sonic. His effort in the Kentucky Derby was not spectacular, but it was about on par with most of the other starters in a contest that seemed to settle nothing regarding the 3-year-old division. He finished 11th in the field of 20.

In the Preakness Stakes, his next effort, he was second, seven lengths behind Bold. In the Withers, he closed ground in the stretch, mainly at the expense of tiring horses.

In the Peter Pan, Dave Gorman had Counterpoint off with the first flight, which was led by Hall of Fame (:22 4/5, :46 1/5, 1:10 3/5). Away Away was in second place, with Counterpoint a nose behind. On the last turn Counterpoint passed Battlefield (mile in 1:35 1/5) and drew out by nearly three lengths, finishing the nine furlongs in 1:47 4/5, two-fifths faster than the track record set by Marriage in September, 1942, under 122 pounds. Battlefield finished second, slightly more than two lengths in front of Hall of Fame. The George D. Widener colt, under 123 pounds, carried nine more than the winner.

Counterpoint is the sixth stakes winner of the year for his sire, Mrs. John D. Hertz' Count Fleet (others: Be Fleet, Juliets Nurse, Count Turf, County Delight, Kiss Me Kate), and is the 13th for him all told. Jabot, dam of Counterpoint, died last summer. Counterpoint is a nominee for the Belmont Stakes.