We the People sprinted clear after the break and drew off spectacularly in Saturday’s $200,000 Peter Pan (G2), scoring by a 10 1/4-length margin in the traditional local prep for the Belmont S. (G1) on June 11. The Rodolphe Brisset-trained colt registered his first stakes win, and Flavien Prat was up on the three-year-old son of Constitution.
The Belmont is next for the exciting sophomore.
Rebounding from his first career setback, a disappointing seventh at short odds in the Arkansas Derby (G1), We the People broke running in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan and showed the way on a clear lead through splits in :23.66, :47.24 and 1:11.25. The bay powered into the stretch on a widening advantage, and he continued to pour it on while winning up wraps.
“We know how good he is, he’s just his own enemy sometimes just because he’s a little cocky,” Brisset said. “Today was good. He got a little warm in the paddock and we gave him a shower and you could see he kind of relaxed and was drying up. I thought the warmup was good compared to Arkansas. Of course, if we bring one all the way here it’s because we thought he had a shot to do that. He can run on anything. He’s one of those kind.”
“Before (the Arkansas Derby) I thought we had a good draw,” Prat added. “Everyone broke well and all sent (for the lead) so I found myself wide and had to take back, drop in, and he didn’t understand what I wanted from him from that point on.
“Today, he broke well and got me into the race. I wanted a clean trip and to be in the clear and see what he could do from there. He responded really well.”
Off as the 5-2 second choice, We the People finished 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.27 on the rain-saturated good track.
Golden Glider got up by a nose for second over Electability. Western River, who made his stakes debut for Brisset, rallied for fourth. Next came Cooke Creek, 2-1 favorite Set Sail, who broke belatedly from the rail post, Complete Agenda, and State Planning.
We the People is campaigned by WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH, and Siena Farm. He won at first asking at Oaklawn Park in mid-February, romping by 5 3/4 lengths at a two-turn mile, and rolled to a five-length victory over entry-level allowance rivals at 1 1/16 miles four weeks later.
Prat was asked about the 1 1/2-mile Belmont distance.
“You never know until you run further, but it seemed like it could be good for him,” the jockey said. “He was absolutely fine on (the wet track).”
We the People promises to be forwardly-placed in the third leg of the Triple Crown, and Brisset may also send Western River to the Belmont.
“Obviously, We the People passed the test and I think I’ll have to watch the replay and take my time and wait 10 days to decide on Western River,” the trainer said. “He only got beat (less than) a half-length for second.”
Bred in Kentucky by Henley Farms, We the People passed through the auction ring three times, bringing $110,000 as a weanling and $220,000 as a yearling before selling for $230,000 at the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream two-year-old sale. He’s the first runner for the unraced Tiznow mare Letchworth, who hails from the Grade 1-winning Harmony Lodge, the dam of two stakes winners.
