Citadeed Pans Out, Suave Prospect Fades

Citadeed seems to be getting the hang of American racing.

Starting for the first time since making his U.S. debut with a ninth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby, Citadeed won the Peter Pan at Belmont Park on Sunday and probably earned a start in the Belmont Stakes June 10.

“He didn’t come home very fast,” winning trainer Rick Violette Jr. said of Citadeed’s 1:50 for 1 1/8 miles on a fast track.

It was fast enough, however, for Citadeed, a British horse, to get to the finish line half a length ahead of Pat N Jac, with Treasurer another neck back. Citadeed, ridden by Eddie Maple, paid $15.40, $8.80 and $7.

Suave Prospect, the 4-5 favorite, finished fifth in the field of 10 3-year-olds. Trainer Nick Zito said the colt, who was 11th in the Derby, will not start in the Belmont Stakes.