Peter Pan S.

ELMONT, N.Y. – Undefeated Unified showed he is maturing into a top-flight horse but perhaps not one equipped for the Belmont Stakes when he staved off Governor Malibu by three-quarters of a length in the Grade 2 Peter Pan Stakes on Saturday at Belmont Park.

The son of Candy Ride kept his record unblemished through three starts for Centennial Farms after passing his sternest test to date in the 1 1/8-mile Peter Pan. He took his first career start, at six furlongs, by three lengths on Feb. 21 at Gulfstream Park. He matched that effort with another three-length decision in the seven-furlong, Grade 3 Bay Shore Stakes at Aqueduct on April 9.

Although the Grade 2 Peter Pan is the traditional prep race for the Belmont, the final leg of the Triple Crown, trainer Jimmy Jerkens sounded as though that 1 1/2-mile marathon might be asking too much.

“There would have to be a lot of horses falling by the wayside for that to happen,” Jerkens said when asked about advancing to the Belmont.

He later added, “It’s improbable, but not impossible.”

When jockey Jose Ortiz was asked about the possibility of going another three-eighths of a mile with Unified, he did not offer a hearty endorsement. He instead referred those questions to Jerkens, a non-answer that appeared to say much.

Donald Lee Little, managing partner of Centennial Farms, was noncommittal about what the next start might be.

“Everything is very open,” he said. “But he’s a talented horse. He always tries. I think he’s got the competitive spirit you want to see.”

After two front-running performances, Unified showed an important dimension when, after breaking from post-position seven, he settled off the pace set by Singleton, who was gunned to the lead by Manny Franco. Singleton went the opening quarter of a mile in :23.32 and the half-mile in :46.38.

Jerkens welcomed the sight as Unified sat behind Singleton and, briefly, Supah Czech.

“I never thought he wouldn’t the way he was in the morning,” he said how Unified settled in behind horses.

The heavily favored Unified paid $3.10 to win. He completed the 1 1/8-mile distance in 1:47.14.

He showed ample spirit in fighting off Governor Malibu, a sharp-closing New York-bred for jockey Joel Rosario and trainer Christophe Clement. But there was little doubt that he was running out of gas at the end, leaving Jerkens in a quandary.

“It’s going to take some doing to think about what to do from this point on,” he said.

The distance issue aside, Unified eliminated any doubts about his quality and potential.

“We trained him hard for this race and he took it like a man,” Jerkens said. “He didn’t miss an oat. He actually looks like he’s carrying more flesh than he did when he ran the last time. Only the good ones do that.”