NEW YORK (AP) — Mark Valeski rallied to beat Right to Vote by 1 1/4 lengths in the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes for 3-year-olds at Belmont Park.
Trainer Larry Jones and owner Brereton C. Jones (no relation) had initially planned to run the colt in the Kentucky Derby. They decided on the Tuesday of Derby week that Mark Valeski wasn’t as sharp as they would like, so the Derby was out, and the Peter Pan became the plan.
It worked to perfection.
Laying off a blazing pace set by 47-1 Right to Vote, Mark Valeski rallied four wide at the top of his lane for his third win in six starts and first stakes victory.
Now the next decision centers on running in the Belmont Stakes on June 9.
“We’re sure going to look at the Belmont,” Larry Jones said. “It sure looked like he handled this track well.”
Mark Valeski paid $4.70, $3.30 and $2.80 as the 6-5 favorite with Rosie Napravnik aboard. Right to Vote returned $24.60 and $14 while Street Life, who rallied from far back to get third, paid $5.60 to show.
