NEW YORK (AP) -- Freedom Child easily won the $200,000 Peter Pan Stakes, the traditional prep race for the Belmont Stakes, by 13 lengths in the slop on Saturday at Belmont Park

"Hopefully, this might lead us to the Belmont," said trainer Tom Albertrani said.

Freedom Child lost his shot at the Kentucky Derby after a disastrous break in Aqueduct's Wood Memorial, where the stewards ruled he did not get a fair start.

"We thought we were set to run well in the Wood; we just had a little bit of bad luck," said Terry Finley, president of part owner West Point Thoroughbreds. "The next day, we put a circle around the Peter Pan."

Freedom Child made the wait worthwhile.

After a sluggish start, Luis Saez hustled Freedom Child to the front and the outcome was never in doubt the rest of the way.

Freedom Child paid $9.20, $5.80 and $5.10 for his second win in six starts. The time was 1:49.09 for the 1 1-8 miles.

Saint Vigeur was a distant second, returning $6.90 and $5.40. Go Get the Basil paid $8.60 to show.

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Freedom Child wins Belmont's Peter Pan Stakes