Month: October 2021

Blowout Becomes Brown’s Fifth First Lady Winner Saturday At Keeneland

Trainer Chad Brown continued his dominance of the Grade 1 First Lady Presented by UK HealthCare with the 1-2 finish by owner Peter Brant's Blowout (GB) and Regal Glory.

Brown has won the past four runnings of the 1-mile race and five overall. The only other trainer with multiple wins in the race was Brown's mentor, Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel. Brown's other winners are Dayatthespa (2014), A Raving Beauty (GER) (2018), and Uni (GB) in 2019 and 2020.

Both fillies came out of the race well along with sixth-place finisher Viadera (GB), according to Baldo Hernandez, Brown's assistant at Keeneland.

With the victory, Blowout received a fees-paid berth into the $2 million Grade 1 Maker's Mark Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf to be run Nov. 6 at Del Mar.

Beaten a length for the $240,000 winner's share was Empress Josephine (IRE) for trainer Aidan O'Brien and the ownership group of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith.

“She was very encouraging,” said Kieran Murphy, O'Brien's assistant. “The plan is to run her back Saturday (in the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Presented by Dixiana) and I think the extra furlong should benefit her.”

Godolphin's Althiqa (GB), fourth as the favorite after a rough trip, is scheduled to begin her journey back to Europe Monday night.

“You just can't be that far back (early) at Keeneland,” said Christopher Durham, assistant to trainer Charlie Appleby.

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McPeek Considering Options For Rattle N Roll’s Next Start

Trainer Kenny McPeek indicated Sunday morning that Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll, winner of Saturday's Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, might bypass the $2 million Grade 1 TVG Breeders' Cup Juvenile Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance on Nov. 5 in favor of a race at his Churchill Downs base. The son of Connect earned a fees-paid entry and travel expenses to the Juvenile at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club in Del Mar, Calif., with yesterday's victory at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky.

“I am not going to commit yet,” McPeek said. “My first instinct is to wait for the (Grade 2) Kentucky Jockey Club on Nov. 27. The Breeders' Cup is an 'away game,' and I know he likes Churchill a lot.”

Rattle N Roll made his career debut with a third-place finish on June 26 at Churchill and returned in September to win a 1 1/16th-mile maiden race. He was a clear winner at the same distance in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity.

“This colt wants even more distance,” McPeek said. “I think a mile and a quarter is what he is asking for.”

Rattle N Roll is a two-time graduate of Keeneland auctions. He was sold as a weanling for $55,000 at the 2019 November Breeding Stock Sale and was purchased by McPeek as agent at last year's September Yearling Sale for $210,000. McPeek said he saw a strong resemblance to the colt's paternal grandsire, Curlin, when he saw Rattle N Roll at the September Sale. As agent, McPeek purchased Curlin at the 2005 September Sale.

McPeek said Rattle N Roll also is reminiscent of Tejano Run, who won the 1994 Breeders' Futurity for him. Tejano Run evolved into a graded stakes-winning millionaire and Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up.

“Tejano Run was a big, scopey horse – tall with a lot of leg to him,” he said. “Rattle N Roll has a beautiful hip and big, deep shoulder. Beautiful horse overall.”

McPeek's family, crew, and friends had multiple reasons for festivities Saturday night at his traditional semi-annual barbeque and bonfire at his Magdalena Farm in Lexington. About 100 people attended to celebrate the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity triumph, the 21st birthday of McPeek's daughter, Jenna, and the University of Kentucky football team's win over Louisiana State University.

“We had birthday cake, and Jenna had champagne,” he said.

Phoenix Thoroughbred III's Double Thunder came out of his runner-up effort in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity in good order, according to Ginny DePasquale, assistant to Todd Pletcher.

Double Thunder broke last in the field of 13 and rallied to claim the second spot.

“The one hole in a big field; it's tough,” DePasquale said. “I thought he ran well.”

Pletcher said via text that Double Thunder would ship back to Belmont and “we will keep our options open.”

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Lobo Has Imperador, In Love Tabbed For Breeders’ Cup At Del Mar

Trainer Paulo Lobo already had one horse in his stable with a fees-paid berth to the Breeders' Cup in Imperador (ARG) before Saturday. By 6 p.m. yesterday, In Love (BRZ) had punched his ticket to Del Mar with a 1½-length victory in the Grade 1 Keeneland Turf Mile.

Lobo said that In Love as well as stablemate Ivar (BRZ) both returned to The Thoroughbred Center on the other side of Lexington last night and were doing fine Sunday morning. Ivar, in his first start in more than five months, finished fourth after a troubled trip in his bid to repeat in the Turf Mile.

In Love, who provided jockey Alex Achard with his first Grade 1 victory, earned a berth in the Grade 1 FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile Presented by PDJF, a race in which Ivar was fourth last year here at Keeneland and remains under consideration for this year.

Imperador earned his spot in the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Turf with a victory in course-record time in the Grade 2 Calumet Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs in Franklin, Ky., last month.

All three horses are owned by Bonne Chance Farm and Stud R D I. Lobo said he would ship his Breeders' Cup runners to Del Mar on Nov. 1.

The defending champion in the Breeders' Cup Mile, Order of Australia (IRE), finished last in the field of 12 in the Keeneland Turf Mile.

“He was a disappointment,” said Kieran Murphy, who is overseeing trainer Aidan O'Brien's horses at Keeneland. “He had a tough draw, 10 of 13, and he doesn't like to be in around other horses. He will leave tonight for Chicago and then fly home tomorrow.”

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