Growth Equity Dominates the Peter Pan as Belmont Prep
NEW YORK — Growth Equity, the even‑money favorite, swept four‑wide leaving the far turn, took command at the top of the stretch, and powered clear by two lengths to capture Saturday’s Grade 3, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Aqueduct. The victory gave trainer Chad Brown back‑to‑back wins in the local prep for the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets.
Flavien Prat rode the Klaravich Stablesrunner to victory in the 1 ⅛‑mile contest, which offered waived entry and starting fees into the Belmont Stakes for the top three finishers (excluding the Triple Crown supplemental fee). The Belmont will be run June 6 at Saratoga.
How the Race Unfolded
A field of five went postward after Bull by the Horns scratched to target next Saturday’s Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park.
Talk to Me Jimmy (2‑1) bobbled at the start under Manuel Franco but rebounded to set the pace over Azam, posting fractions of 23.80 and 48.35 seconds. Gulfy pressed outside, Azam tracked along the rail, Growth Equity (1‑1) sat fourth in the two‑path, and Trendsetter (5‑2) trailed under tight restraint.
After six furlongs in 1:12.70, Talk to Me Jimmy still led as Gulfy continued to apply pressure. On the far turn, Growth Equity advanced three wide under gentle encouragement; approaching the quarter pole, Prat angled four wide, ranged up, and seized control at the top of the stretch.
“Good setup. Very handy horse. Gave me a good run when I asked him,” Prat said. “Going a mile and an eighth for the first time, I wanted to save ground a bit. I was happy where I was down the backside and got him in the clear.”
Ridden out under a hand ride and two left‑handed taps, Growth Equity stopped the clock in 1:50.25 over a good, harrowed main track. He returned $4.04, $2.50, and $2.10, earning $110,000 for Klaravich Stables.
“He got a nice education today by rating and losing plenty of ground on the final turn where he needed to go around those two horses,” Brown said. “He looked a winner every step of the way and probably ran a lifetime figure again.”
Order of Finish and Connections’ Reactions
Talk to Me Jimmy dug in gamely along the rail to finish second for trainer Rudy Rodriguez, paying $3.40 and $2.12.
“He ran a good race. We were where we wanted to be — on the lead, comfortable, nobody pressing us,” Rodriguez said. “This is a stakes race; you can’t take anything away from the winner.”
Trendsetter, with Kazushi Kimura aboard, rallied six wide for third, edging Gulfy by a neck and returning $2.18. Gulfy pressed early then faded to fourth, 5 ½ lengths back, while Azam (28‑1) trailed throughout and finished last, 26 lengths behind.
Brown’s & Prat’s Milestones
The win gave Brown his second straight Peter Pan victory and fourth overall — following Hill Road (2025), Country Grammer (2020), and Timeline (2017). Prat earned his third Peter Pan triumph, previously winning with We the People (2022) and Hill Road (2025).
Pedigree and Future Plans
A Kentucky‑bred bay colt by Nyquist out of the Grade 3‑placed Wildcat Heir mare My Dear Venezuela, Growth Equity was bred by Stone Farm and purchased for $425,000 at the 2024 Keeneland September yearling sale. His dam is a half‑sister to Grade 2‑placed, multiple stakes winner Selva.
Growth Equity’s record improved to 4 starts: 2 wins, 2 seconds, adding to his March 20 Aqueduct maiden victory by 4 ¼ lengths.
Brown said no immediate decision has been made on the Belmont Stakes, which would require the colt to handle 1 ¼ miles for the first time.
“He didn’t scream for more ground after this,” Brown said. “I’m not in a hurry to stretch him out, but there are plenty of mile‑and‑an‑eighth races ahead. Flavien wasn’t against more distance — we’ll talk it over with Seth Klarman.”
Rodriguez said Talk to Me Jimmy, a New York‑bred, will be considered for both the Belmont Stakes and the New York Derby (July 13 at Finger Lakes).
