Hill Road stretches out in Peter Pan

An ill-timed temperature knocked Hill Road off the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail when he was forced to scratch from last month's Wood Memorial (G2). The son of Quality Road will instead rev back up Saturday in the $200,000 Peter Pan (G3) at Aqueduct, a circuit tune-up for next month's Belmont (G1) at Saratoga.

Although he began his career on turf in Ireland last summer, Hill Road made an impression rallying for third in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) in his U.S. debut. Prior to his defection from the Wood, Hill Road was a modest third in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) over a 1 1/16-mile distance seemingly shorter than he needs.

Captain Cook, the beaten favorite in the Wood after taking the Withers S. on Feb. 1, stalked in second behind the winning Rodriguez but could not keep up with that rival and eventually faded to fourth.

"We thought that he ran as good as he could," trainer Rick Dutrow said. "He had everything go his way in the race and it seemed to me that he just kind of got outrun, and that is OK."

Todd Pletcher, who has won a record five editions of the Peter Pan, will saddle stakes newcomer Uncaged and Vassimo, who finished fourth and sixth, respectively, in the Risen Star (G2) and Louisiana Derby (G2).

Uncaged, who won on debut going six furlongs at Saratoga in early August, was a dull fourth in his comeback at Gulfstream in March but rebounded to take a one-mile allowance over the Big A strip. Both of his wins occurred in the mud.

Far Bridge is the undisputed class of the $400,000 Man o' War (G2), which attracted a small field and thus was carded as the second race on the program.

Last season, Far Bridge notched the Sword Dancer (G1) and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1), and kicked off his 2025 campaign with a hard-fought neck victory in the Pan American (G3) in late March.

"He had three weeks off after the Pan American with no breezes because it was such a strong effort off the layoff," said Miguel Clement, assistant to his father, trainer Christophe Clement. "He's coming into this race quite well."

Far Bridge's main concern might be if the 1 3/8-mile Man o' War turns into a tactical affair. Capture the Flag led throughout to upset the Mac Diarmida (G2) two back, though trailed in the Pan American in his most recent start.

Gun Song did not have the best of starts to her season when she was a distant third in a graded-quality allowance at Gulfstream in mid-March, but the four-year-old's prior form makes her a contender in the $200,000 Ruffian (G2) at one mile.

"She came out of that race with tender feet, and I had to pull her shoes and give her a few days off," trainer Mark Hennig said of the Gulfstream performance. "She's really rebounded since we got her re-shod and everything is going well."

Gun Song enjoyed a solid sophomore season last term, winning the Black-Eyed Susan (G2) and Cathryn Sophia S. while also missing in the Cotillion (G1) and Mother Goose (G2) in photo finishes. The Cotillion loss by a neck was to eventual Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna.

Also looking to rebound off a recent poor showing is track-and-distance stakes winner Jody's Pride. Beaten a neck in a three-way Inside Information (G2) photo two back, Jody's Pride struggled last out in the Azeri (G2), won comfortably by Thorpedo Anna.

"She missed the break a little and she wants to be forwardly-placed," trainer Jorge Abreu said.

Dual graded winner My Mane Squeeze exits a third-place effort in the Madison (G1), and with a 3-for-4 record at Aqueduct, might be the filly to beat in the field of 11.

Graded stakes veterans Full Moon Madness, Surveillance, and Anarchist are among the notables in the $175,000 John A. Nerud (G3) over six furlongs, but the New York-bred Whatchatalkinabout is worth a look stepping up into open company following a six-length allowance win in January, for which he earned a 107 Brisnet Speed rating.