Mark Valeski and The Lumber Guy in the Peter Pan Stakes, but Summer Front could humiliate them both
The two known names of the Kentucky Derby trail that were either omitted off the lineup or withdrawn from the race, Mark Valeski and The Lumber Guy are two horses, who will make the lineup in the Grade 2, $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont Park on 12 May,
2012.
Brereton C. Jones homebred Mark Valeski was eligible to get into the 5 May, 2012, Kentucky Derby based on his earnings, but trainer Larry Jones didn’t have a good feeling sending the 3-yeare-old Proud Citizen colt to the Derby, instead he opted for the Peter
Pan Stakes.
It was mainly because of the colt’s last work out session prior to the Derby that didn’t have enough zeal in it to convince Larry Jones to send him ahead, who was a little sceptical of his inclusion to begin with and was more leaned towards other stakes
races than the first jewel of the Triple Crown.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean Mark Valeski had a bad time on the Derby trail, as he finished second on both occasions, Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes and the Grade 2 Louisiana Derby.
“It wasn’t because we didn’t have confidence in the horse,” said Jones of the decision to bypass the Derby. “He’s a nice horse. But we felt he was still a week or two away from being at his best, and we didn’t want to run him at Churchill Downs if he wasn’t
at his best. But that’s me, a week late and a couple of dollars short.
“That (work) was what we were looking for from him. Rosie (Napravnik) said he was playing and full of energy coming back.”
Though, apart from Mark Valeski and The Lumber Guy, there is a new three-year-old sensation, Summer Front, who looks promising enough to be one of the leading 3-year-olds of the nation, and the Peter Pan Stakes field should look out because he could be the
one to beat.
Posted a hat-trick in his first three starts, and then finished second to All Squared Away in the Grade 3 Coolmore Lexington Stakes, speaks volumes of his ability.
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