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Connect Colt ‘Rolls’ in Breeders’ Futurity

Rattle N Roll (Connect) provided his first-crop sire with a first Grade I win, and potentially a Breeders' Cup-bound colt to go along with his promising filly Hidden Connection, as he powered away to an impressive score in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

A three-length, third-out, two-turn maiden winner at Churchill Sept. 23, the 8-1 shot stumbled slightly at the start and sat a midpack trip while saving ground as favored Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) cleared from his wide draw through fractions of :22.81 and :46.74. Shifted out by Brian Hernandez, Jr. entering the far turn, the Lucky Seven Stable colorbearer and $210,000 KEESEP graduate revved up with a flashy, four-wide blitz rounding the bend, struck the front as they hit the top of the short stretch and powered home an impressive 4 1/4-length winner.

Double Thunder (Super Saver), a last out winner of the Sapling S. at Monmouth, grabbed second ahead of the pacesetting Classic Causeway, who entered off a sharp debut score sprinting at Saratoga.

Rattle N Roll, a rallying third from far back behind subsequent GI Hopeful S. winner Gunite (Gun Runner) on debut sprinting beneath the Twin Spires June 26, bolted on the second turn and was pulled up in a nine-furlong test at Saratoga Aug. 26 prior to his maiden breaker.

“He made a start at Churchill in the spring and it was more of a test drive than anything, trying to teach him to finish and everything,” winning trainer Ken McPeek said.

“The race at Saratoga–we were miffed by that. His left eye was closed the next morning and the only thing we could figure is that he got hit in the eye with a rock or something. So we were like, 'OK, that was a head-scratcher, what was that about?' and then we went back to work. He's never done anything [like that] before or since.

McPeek continued, “I'm just real happy for the Mackin family. I love having the opportunity to be able to buy horses for people like them. You can't go into a race with 13 horses and be overconfident, because so much can happen, and I told my wife before the race, 'If the 13 horse rolls out of there early I think we've got a real chance,' because that horse really needed to rate to win, and I think it set up well for us.”

Hernandez, Jr. added, “All the credit really goes to the horse, being only his fourth start, to be able to sit back there and read the race and let it develop in front of him. When I got him outside, he showed what a good horse he is. He engulfed those horses pretty easily, and turning for home he switched leads. He knows his job and he just kind of went on about it.”

Pedigree Notes:

Rattle N Roll is the second stakes winner for freshman sire Connect, who is also represented by ultra-impressive and unbeaten GIII Pocahontas S. heroine and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies-bound Hidden Connection. This is the 52nd stakes/26th graded/ninth Grade I winner for broodmare sire Johannesburg. He was also represented by last weekend's GI Rodeo Drive S. heroine Going to Vegas (Goldencents).

The winning mare Jazz Tune, also responsible for a Tapwrit colt of 2020 (purchased by Oracle Bloodstock, agent for $55,000 at KEESEP), was bred to Liam's Map for 2022. Jazz Tune was purchased by St. Simon Place for $20,000 at the 2016 KEENOV sale. She RNA'd for $55,000 at the same sale two years later while carrying Rattle N Roll.

Saturday, Keeneland
CLAIBORNE BREEDERS' FUTURITY-GI, $500,000, Keeneland, 10-9, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 1:43.78, ft.
1–RATTLE N ROLL, 122, c, 2, by Connect
                1st Dam: Jazz Tune, by Johannesburg
                2nd Dam: Rap and Dance, by Pleasant Tap
                3rd Dam: Dance Review, by Northern Dancer
   1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I
   WIN. ($55,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $210,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Lucky Seven Stable (Mackin); B-St. Simon Place (KY);
T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $300,000.
Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $379,460. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click
   for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Double Thunder, 122, c, 2, Super Saver–Rattataptap, by
Tapit. ($60,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Phoenix Thoroughbred, LTD;
B-WinStar Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $100,000.
3–Classic Causeway, 122, c, 2, Giant's Causeway–Private World,
by Thunder Gulch. O-Kentucky West Racing LLC and Cooper,
Clarke M.; B-Kentucky West Racing LLC & Clarke M. Cooper
Family Living Trust (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $50,000.
Margins: 4 1/4, HF, 1 1/4. Odds: 8.70, 7.20, 1.90.
Also Ran: American Sanctuary, Costa Terra, Mr. Bouma, Stellar Tap, Kevin's Folly, Great Escape, Seal Beach, Mac's Time, King Curlin, Don't Wait Up. Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Letruska Tough to Beat in Spinster

With the retirement of both Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) and Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), Letruska (Super Saver) stands head and shoulders above the older mare division and is currently ranked second behind only Knicks Go (Paynter) among all runners in the country on the latest NTRA Top Thoroughbred Poll. She'll look to put her raw brilliance on display over her home track Sunday in Keeneland's GI Juddmonte Spinster S., a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff.

The powerful 5-year-old bay beat both Monomoy Girl and Swiss Skydiver fair and square in the GI Apple Blossom H. in April when she started a four-race graded win streak that included the Aug. 28 GI Personal Ensign S. in her last out. She's been training like a beast, bulleting in eight of her last nine works, including in her most recent five-panel move at Keeneland Oct. 2 in :59 flat (1/55). She does her best work from the lead, then simply runs her competition off their feet. The former Mexican star has now won seven graded stakes in the U.S., including her last two at the Spinster's nine-furlong distance and three Grade Is. Letruksa is a head shy of being unbeaten on the year in six starts and has already won three”Win and You're In” races this season. She'll look to make it four in the Spinster.

Of the competition, Bonny South (Munnings) gave Letruska a scare in the Personal Ensign, getting within a half-length when she unleashed a strong closing kick. The blaze-faced chestnut also finished behind the likely champ in the GI Ogden Phipps S. Bonny South has just one win on the year, but it was here at Keeneland in the GIII Doubledogdare S. during the Spring Meet, so the track won't be an issue.

Grade I winner Dunbar Road (Quality Road) hasn't won this year, but she got a 100 Beyer when fourth behind Letruska in the Personal Ensign and shipped in from Belmont when she could have stayed at the same distance–albeit over one turn–in Sunday's GII Beldame S. Multiple graded winner Envoutante (Uncle Mo) and listed winner Crystal Ball (Malibu Moon) are both Grade I-placed, but each would need a career-best effort to come close to Letruska.

The post Letruska Tough to Beat in Spinster appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Blowout Gives Brown Another First Lady Crown

Peter Brant's Blowout (GB) (Dansili {GB} gave trainer Chad Brown his fourth consecutive victory in Keeneland's GI First Lady S., leading every step of the way to just stave off a final-furlong rally from the commonly owned 'TDN Rising Star' Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) to punch her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Del Mar Nov. 6. Empress Josephine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire} x Lillie Langtry {Ire}) ran with merit to be third.

Blowout was kicked straight into the lead by Flavien Prat from an outside alley and established a clear lead through the first two panels in a manageable :23.76 and a half in :47.75, chased most closely through the opening exchanges by La Signare (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}) and Regal Glory, who traveled three wide the trip without the benefit of cover. Traveling nicely on the bridle nearing the stretch, Blowout was confidently ridden past the eighth pole and, although Regal Glory tried her very best, she could not press past and Blowout was home narrowly in front. Empress Josephine sat a ground-saving trip better than midfield, was pulled off the inside and rallied three wide into the stretch and ran on to be a highly creditable third. Favored Althiqa (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}), winner of the GI Just A Game S. and GI Diana S. in her two most recent starts, raced in the slipstream of Empress Josephine down the back, but endured a checkered passage through the final furlong and a half and did well to be fourth.

A Raving Beauty (Ger) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}, 2018); and Uni (GB) (More Than Ready, 2019 & 2020) were Brown's other recent winners. He won his first running of the First Lady with Dayatthespa (City Zip) in 2014, who followed up in the F/M Turf at Santa Anita.

“As usual she showed a lot of speed out of the gate, and I was able to get myself comfortable on the lead where I didn't have too much pressure,” said Prat of the winner. “She relaxed well down the backside. She fought really hard down the lane because she lost the lead for a little bit, but she dug in and fought back and really made a great stretch run.”

Blowout was one of the more luckless horses in training in 2020, losing a third-level Saratoga allowance by a neck last August, the GIII Noble Damsel S. to stable companion Viadera (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) by a similar margin the following month and missing by a nose to the latter in the GI Matriarch S. in November. The bay held on to win the GII Distaff Turf Mile May 1 at Churchill after opening up by as many as eight lengths and was a latest fourth to Got Stormy (Get Stormy) after cutting out a strong pace in the GI Fourstardave H. Aug. 14 at the Spa.

Pedigree Notes:

Blowout is the 23rd top-level scorer for her sire and is the second GISW out of a daughter of the late Deep Impact (Jpn). The other, the striking 7-year-old Kiseki (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}), was to run in Sunday's G2 Kyoto Daishoten at Hanshin.

In the name of Whitebirch, Brant paid €450,000 for Blowout at the 2016 Goffs November Sale. She is the second foal from her dam, who carried the Wildenstein silks to a popular victory in the 2012 G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches (French 1000 Guineas) ahead of a close runner-up effort in that year's G1 Prix de Diane (French Oaks). Beauty Parlour, a daughter of SW & MGSP Bastet, is a full-sister to Barocci (Jpn), a stakes winner and Group 3-placed in France and placed in the GII City of Hope Mile and GII American H. in this country for Hronis Racing and John Sadler.

Beauty Parlour is the dam of the 2-year-old filly Bouffant (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and a yearling filly by the late Coolmore legend.

Saturday, Keeneland
FIRST LADY S. PRESENTED BY UK HEALTHCARE-GI, $400,000, Keeneland, 10-9, 3yo/up, f/m, 1mT, 1:34.86, gd.
1–BLOWOUT (GB), 124, m, 5, by Dansili (GB)
               1st Dam: Beauty Parlour (GB) (G1SW-Fr, $713,308), by Deep Impact (Jpn)
               2nd Dam: Bastet (Ire), by Giant's Causeway
               3rd Dam: Benediction (Ire), by Day Is Done (Ire)
1ST GRADE I WIN. (€450,000 Wlg '16 GOFNOV). O-Peter M.
Brant; B-Dayton Investments Ltd. (GB); T-Chad C. Brown;
J-Flavien Prat. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 14-5-7-1,
$988,600. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Regal Glory, 124, m, 5, by Animal Kingdom
               1st Dam: Mary's Follies (MGSW, $338,889), by More Than Ready
               2nd Dam: Catch the Queen, by Miswaki
               3rd Dam: Wave to the Queen, by Wavering Monarch
($925,000 5yo '21 KEEJAN). O-Peter M. Brant; B-Paul P
Pompa (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $80,000. 'TDN Rising Star'
3–Empress Josephine (Ire), 121, f, 3, by Galileo (Ire)
               1st Dam: Lillie Langtry (Ire) (Hwt. Filly at 3-Eng- at 7 – 9 1/2 f., G1SW-Ire, G1SW-Eng,
$1,361,940), by Danehill Dancer (Ire)
               2nd Dam: Hoity Toity (GB), by Darshaan (GB)
               3rd Dam: Hiwaayati (GB), by Shadeed
O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor & Derrick Smith;
B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Aidan P. O'Brien. $40,000.
Margins: HF, HF, 1HF. Odds: 5.30, 5.80, 11.50.
Also Ran: Althiqa (GB), Abscond, Viadera (GB), Harvey's Lil Goil, Daddy Is a Legend, Dalika (Ger), Hendy Woods, Star Command, La Signare (Fr). Scratched: Princess Grace.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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Turf 2-Year-Olds Make a Splash in Bourbon

A field of 14 juveniles look to sort themselves out in Sunday's GII Castle & Key Bourbon S. at Keeneland, a “Win and You're In” qualifier for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) is one of two stakes-winning juveniles in the field, following up a spectacular 14 1/4-length off-the-turf maiden special weight at Ellis Park July 2 with a hard-fought score in the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile S. Sept. 6. As a $330,000 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky yearling, he remains the highest-priced yearling–by nearly $200,000–by his sire and was picked out of the sale by that astute judge of horseflesh, Kenny McPeek. Tiz the Bomb owns the highest Beyer (76) among these young runners and has bulleted in two of his last three works, one bullet each on turf and dirt.

As the only other black-type winner among these nascent runners, Red Danger (Orb) also has a two-race win streak. He overcame bumping and steadying to break his maiden at the Spa, then also came back at Kentucky Downs to edge to a win in the Sept. 9 Global Tote Juvenile Sprint S. Both his victories are on the lawn, but he hasn't gone farther than 6 1/2 furlongs for trainer Brian Lynch.

If Tiz the Bomb falters, McPeek also sends Lucky Boss (Street Boss), who won a July 17 off-the-turf Ellis maiden, then was runner-up Aug. 15 at the same track in the Runhappy Ellis Park Juvenile S. The Bourbon will mark his first start on the grass. Rocket One (Into Mischief) kicked off his career in the deep end, losing on the dirt to eventual GISW Gunite (Gun Runner), then lost to re-opposing Play Action Pass (Cairo Prince) on the turf before winning handily while closing late in a Sept. 6 Kentucky Downs maiden special weight. Play Action Pass was in that same Gunite maiden, beat Rocket One when moving to the lawn, and grudgingly yielded the lead and the win to Tiz the Bomb in the Juvenile Mile S. Heaven Street (Street Sense) has the most starts under his belt with five, and has won two of his last three, all on the grass, with a placing in Woodbine's Soaring Free S.

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