By Christie DeBernardis
“TDN Rising Star” Unified (Candy Ride {Arg}) looks to keep his perfect record in tact as he stretches out to a route of ground for the first time in Belmont's one-turn, nine-panel GII Peter Pan S. Saturday afternoon. Opening his account with a speedy gate-to-wire victory at Gulfstream Feb. 21, the Centennial Farms colorbearer earned a gaudy 102 Beyer Speed Figure–the highest in this field by 12 points–for his similarly impressive success in a muddy renewal of the seven-furlong GIII Bay Shore S. at Aqueduct Apr. 9. That race's form was further flattered when runner-up King Kranz (Munnings) returned to win the Gold Fever S. here May 6. Unified may have never tried a route of ground before, but his pedigree suggests he can handle it being by undefeated GI Pacific Classic winner Candy Ride and out of a daughter of GI Haskell Invitational S. hero Dixie Union.
Treadway Racing Stable's Adventist (Any Given Saturday) has been knocking at the door of a graded win in his last three outings. Demolishing the field by 11 1/4 lengths in his Aqueduct unveiling Dec. 19, the Leah Gyarmati pupil finished third in the GIII Wither S. Jan. 30 and the GIII Gotham S. Mar. 5. The bay has a right to improve here after unleashing a powerful late rally to complete the trifecta again last time in a muddy renewal of the GI Wood Memorial S. Apr. 9.
“We didn't do anything differently with him after the Wood whether he was going to the [GI Kentucky] Derby or not,” said Gyarmati of Adventist, who was 22nd in the Derby points standings. “I'm very pleased with the way he's been training, and I think he will appreciate the big turns at Belmont. We're hopeful; we'll see how he runs Saturday.”
Todd Pletcher, who saddled last year's Peter Pan winner Madefromlucky (Lookin At Lucky), looks to capture his fourth renewal of this test with Decorated Solider (Proud Citizen). Romping by 7 1/2 lengths in second-out graduation at Tampa Mar. 12, the Eclipse Thoroughbred runner followed suit with a victory in Oaklawn's one-mile Northern Spur S. on the GI Arkansas Derby undercard Apr. 16.
Jump Sucker Stable and Oak Bluff Stables' Governor Malibu (Malibu Moon) crossed the line first last time in Laurel's nine-panel Federico Tesio S., but was disqualified and placed second for interference. Prior to that, he scored a pair of victories over fellow native New Yorkers, earning his diploma by six lengths in Ozone Park Nov. 14 and capturing the Gander S. there Feb. 6.
The other two runners with victories at this 1 1/8-mile distance are Wild About Deb (Eskendereya), who broke his maiden impressively last time in a sloppy off-the-turfer at Santa Anita Apr.9; and Lost Iron (Flatter). Trained by Bill Mott, the latter donned cap and gown at third asking over heavily favored Doctor Mounty (Street Sense)–who returns in Saturday's third race–going this distance at Aqueduct Apr. 1.
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