Sunday Break Wins Prep for Belmont

Sunday Break won the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes by only a length over 11-1 shot Puzzlement, but the victory was accomplished easily by the 1-2 favorite.

Prepping for a likely appearance in the Belmont Stakes on June 8, the 3-year-old Forty Niner colt earned his first stakes win and was asked for his best only briefly in the run to the wire. Ridden by Gary Stevens, he completed the 11/8 miles in 1:48 Saturday at Belmont Park.

Trained by Neil Drysdale for Koji Maeda, Sunday Break won for the fourth time in seven starts. In 13 days, he’ll try to do what A.P. Indy did for Drysdale 10 years ago. That is, win the Peter Pan and the Belmont in succession.

“I can tell you this didn’t take much out of him,” Stevens said. “He was much stronger today than he had been in the past. The time between races has really helped him.

“If we make it to the Belmont, I hope I’m the spoiler. If I can’t win, I would love to see a Triple Crown.”