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Freedom Child untouchable in Peter Pan
A potential rematch with both Orb and Revolutionary looms in the June 8 Belmont Stakes after Freedom Child demolished his Peter Pan foes by 13 1/4 lengths under Luis Saez. Rushed to the lead after breaking a step slow, Freedom Child proceeded to set splits of :23 2/5, :46 3/5 and 1:10 4/5 while widening his lead at each call. Despite drifting out steadily in the final quarter mile, Freedom Child continued to expand his advantage and finished up nine furlongs in 1:49. "The plan was to be on the lead and luckily he was able to quicken up leaving the gate and get to an easy lead. So, it worked out well," winning trainer Tom Albertrani said. "I was very pleased to see him win like that. I didn't think he would actually draw away by that many lengths. Once I saw him on the lead like that I was pretty confident at the half-mile pole by the way he was traveling. A well-supported 7-2 in the Peter Pan, perhaps in part due to the imposing November 24 form line, Freedom Child rewarded his backers with mutuels of $9.20, $5.80 and $5.10. Saint Vigeur rallied from mid-pack to gain the place, 2 1/4 lengths ahead of 16-1 shot Go Get the Basil, who won a photo for third over 5-2 favorite Abraham. Completing the order of finish were Incognito, Fear the Kitten, My Name is Michael, Narvaez and Infinite Magic. Declan's Warrior, last-out winner of the Bay Shore, was scratched as was Battier. A ridgling son of Malibu Moon, Freedom Child was a distant eighth in his debut at Belmont last September, but improved dramatically in his second start in the aforementioned maiden at Aqueduct. After another setback, a third-place effort behind Saint Viguer at Gulfstream, Freedom Child finally broke through with a 5 1/4-length maiden win at the Florida track going 1 1/8 miles on March 10. Freedom Child made his stakes debut in the April 6 Wood Memorial. Unfortunately, an assistant starter still had a firm grip on the chestnut when the stalls opened and Freedom Child conceded the field a number of lengths at the start. After trailing home last in the field of 10 after making a middle move back into contention, the stewards ruled that he had raced for purse money only and all wagers on Freedom Child were refunded. "We thought we were set to run well in the Wood; we just had a little bit of bad luck. The next day we put a circle around the Peter Pan," said Terry Finley, president of West Point Thoroughbreds. "I think we're going to go to the Belmont Stakes in about four weeks. I hope Orb runs well in the Preakness and the whole world is watching on (June 8) for the Belmont Stakes, and I hope we have the chance to upset the apple cart." Freedom Child will enter the Belmont with a record of 6-2-1-1, $167,072. Bred in Kentucky by Spendthrift Farm, Freedom Child was a $350,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. He was produced by the winning Deputy Minister mare Bandstand, a daughter of Grade 1 winner City Band. The latter also produced stakes winners Weather Warning and Foolishly, and is the second dam of multiple Grade 3 winners American Lion and multiple stakes winner St Liams Halo. Also hailing from this female line is last year's juvenile colt champion Shanghai Bobby. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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