Small Field for Belmont Stakes Prep

Nova Rags | Sarah Andrew

With 7-5 morning-line favorite Risk Taking (Medaglia d'Oro) expected to scratch in favor of the GI Preakness S. per a report in Daily Racing Form, only five will remain for Saturday's GIII Peter Pan S., the local prep for the GI Belmont S.

Nova Rags (Union Rags), winner of Tampa's seven-furlong Pasco S. Jan. 16, followed a good runner-up finish in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. Feb. 6 with a fourth-place finish in the GI Curlin Florida Derby Mar. 27. The chestnut's resume also includes a debut win sprinting over this track last fall.

Newly minted Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher will saddle a pair-last out GIII Withers S. Feb. 6 runner-up and impeccably bred $1-million KEESEP yearling Overtook (Curlin) and Promise Keeper (Constitution). The latter sandwiched a puzzling 12th in the GII Tampa Bay Derby Mar. 6 with a maiden win at Gulfstream Feb. 6 and a powerful optional claiming tally going 1 1/8 miles at Keeneland Apr. 8.

Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) makes his first start since posting a sharp debut maiden win-good for an 84 Beyer–over subsequent GIII Gotham S. upsetter Weyburn (Pioneerof the Nile) at Aqueduct Nov. 14.

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