We the People

Trainer:

Rodolphe Brisset Owner: WinStar Farm, CMNWLTH Racing, Siena Farm, and Bobby Flay Jockey: Flavien Prat Best Beyer: 103 Record: 4-3-0-0

STRENGTHS: Lightly raced colt burst onto the scene by dominating the local prep, the Peter Pan, by the length of the stretch in gate-to-wire fashion. He proved he handles the Belmont surface just fine and has no issues with a wet racetrack. He is a fresh contender that didn’t deal with tough races in either the Derby or Preakness, and the 103 Beyer from the Peter Pan is the fastest number in the field. There doesn’t appear to be a ton of early speed in this year’s Belmont, and We the People might attempt a repeat of his Peter Pan tactics. If he is allowed an easy lead, he could be very tough to catch.

WEAKNESSES: Although We the People ran very fast in the Peter Pan, he did so with a good front-running trip over a wet track. Perhaps he’ll receive that same scenario in the Belmont, but it appears more likely that he’ll face a bit more adversity, especially considering the added distance. We the People did not run very well in the Arkansas Derby, his lone try on the Kentucky Derby trail. That race was over fast going, and he failed to get as close to the pace as normal due to a tough outside post. He had an excuse, but still didn’t fire a great shot that afternoon. He must prove which race – the Peter Pan or Arkansas Derby – is a true indicator of his abilities.

BETTING VALUE: Based on the absence of the one-two Preakness finishers combined with his big win in the Peter Pan, his sharp recent workout, and his potential pace edge, We the People figures to take a good amount of Belmont money. He is certainly a win contender, and odds of 7-2 or so seem like fair value.

– Dan Illman

SIRE: Multiple Grade 1 winner Constitution is a son of Tapit, who has sired four winners of the Belmont Stakes in Tonalist (2014), Creator (2016), Tapwrit (2017), and Essential Quality (2021). That is a record in the modern era, matched only by the great Lexington, who sired four winners of the classic in the 1800s. Constitution lived up to his sire’s Belmont legacy by siring Belmont winner Tiz the Law in his first crop. However, that race was the first leg of the COVID-shuffled 2020 Triple Crown, and was thus held around one turn at 1 1/8 miles. Tiz the Law did win the Travers and finish second in the Kentucky Derby at 1 1/4 miles. Constitution is the sire of Chilean champion Breakpoint, a Group 1 winner at 1 1/2 miles.

DAM: We the People is the first winner out of unraced Letchworth, who is a half-sister to Grade 3-winning turf sprinter Stratford Hill and stakes-winning turf router Armistice Day. Their dam, Harmony Lodge, won the Grade 1 Ballerina sprinting on dirt at Saratoga. This is the family of Arkansas Derby winners Graeme Hall and Magnum Moon, along with graded stakes winners Win Crafty Lady, Win McCool, Berned, First Passage, and Sparky Ville. Broodmare sire Tiznow, two-time winner of the Breeders’ Cup Classic, sired Da’ Tara, upset winner of the 2008 Belmont Stakes.

OUTLOOK: Constitution is a young classic sire, and there are a pair of successful stamina sources close up in this pedigree in Tapit and Tiznow. Although the immediate female family gives cause for pause, We the People has an affinity for this track and plenty of pedigree tools to serve him well. – Nicole Russo