Thursday's eighth race at Oaklawn, courtesy of trainer Kenny McPeek, has a 2022 Triple Crown flavor.
McPeek is scheduled to send out the top two program choices (Smile Happy and Creative Minister) in the $106,000 allowance for older horses at 1 1/8 miles. Smile Happy, a Grade 2 winner for Lucky Seven Stable, hasn't started since finishing eighth in the Kentucky Derby last May at Churchill Downs. Creative Minister, stakes-placed for Fern Circle Stables, finished third in the Preakness and fifth in the Belmont Stakes. Creative Minister hasn't started since finishing sixth in an Oct. 20 allowance race at Keeneland.
“Unfortunately, they both fell under the same allowance condition and they were both ready at the same time,” McPeek said Tuesday afternoon. “Reluctant to run them against each other, but really, development-wise, it's good for both horses.”
Smile Happy, the 2-1 program favorite, and Creative Minister (3-1) have both been based this winter and early spring at Fair Grounds.
Smile Happy was among the country's leading Kentucky Derby prospects last year after winning both starts 2, including the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at 1 1/16 miles, by a combined 8 ¾ lengths. After finishing second in two major Kentucky Derby preps to open his 3-year-old campaign, Smile Happy (bone bruising, McPeek said) didn't run again in 2022 after being beaten 10 lengths by Rich Strike in Kentucky Derby.
“We turned him out for a little while at my farm in Lexington and when he brought him back, I still wasn't happy with the way he was moving,” McPeek said. “Then we turned him out again and just let him sit for a while. He's come back this time good. These things sometimes take a little longer than you think. Really nice horse and excited about him as a 4-year-old, as well as Creative Minister.”
After finishing third in the Preakness, Creative Minister also finished third in the $135,000 Curlin Stakes July 29 at Saratoga, third in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes (G3) Aug. 23 at Parx and second, beaten a nose, in the $275,000 Bourbon Trail Stakes at 1 3/16 miles Sept. 24 at Churchill Downs.
“We just stopped on him,” McPeek said. “He had run winter, spring, summer, fall and it was just a good period for him to grow up a little bit.”
McPeek said if Smile Happy and Creative Minister perform well Thursday, they could be considered for upcoming races at Oaklawn, Keeneland or Churchill Downs.
Probable post time for Thursday's eighth race is 4:22 p.m. (Central).
The post McPeek-Trained Smile Happy, Creative Minister Return To Races Thursday At Oaklawn appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.
