Saturday’s Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes has emerged as the clearest fresh meeting angle from this hour’s approved-source sweep, with Lexington winner Trendsetter, maiden winner Growth Equity and Withers scorer Talk to Me Jimmy among the six entered for Belmont at the Big A.
The Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes is set to take centre stage at Belmont at the Big A on Saturday, 9 May 2026, with a six-horse field entered for the $200,000 dirt contest over 1 1/8 miles.
Trendsetter Heads Peter Pan Stakes Field
The NYRA’s published entries show the Peter Pan is scheduled as race 9 on an 11-race card, with a 5:11 p.m. Eastern post time.
The race remains one of New York’s established stepping stones toward the Belmont Stakes, and NYRA has again confirmed that entry and starting fees for the 2026 Belmont Stakes will be waived for the first three finishers, excluding the Triple Crown supplemental fee.
Trendsetter Brings Graded Form Into The Race
Trendsetter arrives off a Grade 3 Lexington Stakes win at Keeneland on 11 April (watch below), a performance NYRA described as another step forward for the Ben Colebrook-trained colt after he handled two turns on dirt for the first time.
He breaks from post 1 with Kazushi Kimura booked to ride.
With the NYRA’s advance notes said Trendsetter’s Lexington success came after he tracked the pace before finishing strongly, and his connections believe the wider turns at Aqueduct can suit his running style.
Rivals include Growth Equity, Bull by the Horns and Talk to Me Jimmy.
The official entry list also includes Chad Brown’s Growth Equity, who steps into stakes company after his maiden win at Aqueduct.
Plus will also feature Saffie Joseph Jr.’s Bull by the Horns. Whose Rushaway Stakes victory was highlighted by NYRA as a form boost after Trendsetter returned to win the Lexington.
However, Bull by the Horns is also expected to be scratched, with a tilt at the Preakness Stakes next week preferred.
Saffie Joseph Jr. also has the leading fancy for the Ruffian Stakes on the card – Eunomia.
Talk to Me Jimmy adds established stakes form to the line-up.
Rudy Rodriguez’s colt won the Withers earlier in the season and now returns to Belmont at the Big A after his Wood Memorial run.
Azam, trained by Jose D’Angelo, and Gustavo Rodriguez’s Gulfy complete the field.
Peter Pan Stakes Runners 2026
- 1 – Trendsetter (KY) – Kazushi Kimura Ben Colebrook 3/1
- 2 – Azam (KY) – Jose Lezcano Jose Francisco D’Angelo 10/1
- 3 – Growth Equity (KY) – Flavien Prat Chad C. Brown 6/5
- 4 – Bull by the Horns (KY) – Micah J. Husbands Saffie A. Joseph, Jr. 8/1
- 5 – Talk to Me Jimmy (NY) – Manuel Franco Rudy R. Rodriguez 9/5
- 6 – Gulfy (KY) – Kendrick Carmouche Gustavo Rodriguez 8/1
See our Peter Pan Stakes picks here, plus runners guide.
Note: Peter Pan betting odds are subject to change
Strong Supporting Stakes Card Around The Peter Pan
The Peter Pan sits on a Saturday programme that also includes the Grade 3 John A. Nerud, the Grade 2 Ruffian and the Take the A Train.
With the Paulick Report’s weekend preview also showcasing the Peter Pan as one of the day’s key sophomore races as attention turns from the Kentucky Derby toward the next major 3-year-old targets.
The Peter Pan regularly helps shape the early Belmont picture, and this year’s field brings together a recent graded winner, a Withers winner and an unexposed maiden winner stepping into deeper company.
Even as a lower-temperature monitoring story, it offers a clear and timely look at where the New York 3-year-old division stands heading into the next phase of the Triple Crown season.
Peter Pan Key Facts & Race Details
- Race: Grade 3 Peter Pan Stakes
- Date: Saturday, 9 May 2026
- Venue: Belmont at the Big A
- Time: 5:11 p.m. Eastern
- Purse and conditions: $200,000, 1 1/8 miles on dirt for 3-year-olds
- Entered horses: Trendsetter, Azam, Growth Equity, Bull by the Horns, Talk to Me Jimmy and Gulfy
- Belmont incentive: NYRA will waive Belmont Stakes entry and starting fees for the first three finishers, excluding the Triple Crown supplemental fee
