Ken McPeek | Horse Racing Free Tips

Ken McPeek Talks Derby Hopefuls Tiz the Bomb, Smile Happy On Writers’ Room

Housing as many as three GI Kentucky Derby starters in his barn, trainer Kenny McPeek joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland as the Green Group Guest of the Week Tuesday to discuss Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb)'s dirt prospects and potential summer European campaign, his plan for likely GI Toyota Blue Grass S. favorite Smile Happy (Runhappy) to run in all three Triple Crown races, his thoughts on the continuing phase-out of Lasix in American racing and more.

Tiz the Bomb, a dual stakes winner and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile turf runner-up at two, bounced back from a seventh-place run in Gulfstream's GIII Holy Bull S. to sweep a pair of synthetic-track stakes at Turfway, and will head to Louisville after being considered for a start at Newmarket in the Apr. 30 G1 2000 Guineas.

“When we ran him in Florida, the colt didn't handle the Gulfstream surface and the kickback,” McPeek said. “That surface is a little bit different, it's deep, sand-based and he just didn't go for it. I sent him to Turfway to get his confidence back in the [John] Battaglia and that worked out. So the natural next step was the Jeff Ruby and he punched, and ran a super race. I actually felt like he would be a great horse to take over for the 2000 Guineas, and the undulation of Newmarket wasn't any harder or actually could be easier than his victory at Kentucky Downs [in the Kentucky Downs Mile S.]. But due to some logistics and technicalities, he's not going to go, and our next option is either a turf race at Churchill or the Kentucky Derby. I really think at this point, the horse probably deserves a chance.”

As for Smile Happy, a no-doubt Derby contender who will make just his second start as a 3-year-old in Saturday's Blue Grass after a runner-up effort in the GII Risen Star S., McPeek said, “This is a really special colt. I've been sitting on this horse like a keg of dynamite for months now. I didn't want more than two preps going into the Kentucky Derby. I think the [Derby qualifying] points he got in Louisiana will more than likely get him in. I want to see him run well in the Blue Grass, obviously, and being a Lexington boy, it's always fun to win the Blue Grass. I didn't want to over-race this horse this winter. I really sat on him for a reason, because I think he's a horse that can handle the progression of the Derby, Preakness and Belmont. And you've got to have some juice in the tank for those races. If you're already a little tired or you've overdone it going into those three races, obviously your horse is going to be taxed. But he could set up really well for those.”

Elsewhere on the show, which is also sponsored by Coolmore, the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders' Association, XBTV, West Point Thoroughbreds and Legacy Bloodstock, the writers reacted to Secret Oath (Arrogate)'s valiant but losing performance in the GI Arkansas Derby, the beginning of Bob Baffert's 90-day suspension and the latest shenanigans surrounding banned trainer Wayne Potts. Click here to watch the podcast; click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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Tiz the Bomb Flashes Home in Jeff Ruby Steaks

On a day of three 100-point prep races for the GI Kentucky Derby, it was TIZ THE BOMB (c, 3, Hit It a Bomb–Tiz the Key, by Tiznow)–a colt not officially pointing to the Derby–who won Saturday's GIII Jeff Ruby Steaks at Turfway Park to snag one of those coveted 100-point slots. Drifting from 6-5 out to 8-5, but still clearly favored as the gates flew in, Tiz the Bomb had a smooth break and sat a midfield trip on the outside through fractions of :23.25 and :47.06. Breathing menacingly down the leaders' necks, he was let go by Brian Hernandez, Jr. at about the six-furlong mark and quickly moved into contention. Tiz the Bomb overhauled a simultaneously moving Tawny Port (Pioneerof the Nile), who had unseated rider Manny Franco prior to the race, and took command with ease after a couple of left-handed taps, winning wrapped up with giant strides as he threw his ears forward crossing the wire.

Only eight races on the Kentucky Derby trail give as many as 100 points to the winner–good for a guaranteed spot in the Derby starting gate–but trainer Kenny McPeek suggested before the race that Tiz the Bomb will likely bypass the Derby and target the G1 QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket Apr. 30 and/or the G1 Cazoo Derby at Epsom June 4. He wasn't as firm on that stance immediately after the race.

“We're not going to make a decision quickly,” said McPeek, who said the ownership team wasn't going to rule out the Kentucky Derby. “We'll have to figure out some details. I do think the further he goes, the better. Just a real special colt. We've got some options and they're really great options. Right now, we'll enjoy this and go from there.”

He added regarding the Jeff Ruby Steaks trip: “Brian had him in a really good spot and it looked like he was going to have to carry some outside ground to get there, but he's a good-enough horse to handle it. I'm glad he had him out of trouble. This colt traveled the furthest distance and got it done anyway… We shouldn't rule out Kentucky right now. I think he might be able to handle that.”

The Turfway feature, now in its 51st running, has been contested under seven different names/sponsorships throughout the years and has produced two Kentucky Derby winners in Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}, 2011) and Lil E. Tee (At the Threshold, 1992).

The Jeff Ruby Steaks was Tiz the Bomb's second win in as many starts on Turfway's synthetic surface, as he was coming off a victory in the John Battaglia Memorial S. Mar. 5 after a sophomore dirt experiment that led to an off-the-board finish behind White Abarrio (Race Day) and Simplification (Not This Time) in the GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Feb. 5. Those two were one-three in Saturday's GI Florida Derby. Last year, Tiz the Bomb was Keeneland's GII Bourbon S. winner and Del Mar's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf runner-up, in addition to victor of the Kentucky Downs Juvenile Mile S.

Pedigree Notes:

McPeek is known for his prowess in picking out horses at the sales that may be overlooked by others and going on to success with them. While no one would have called Tiz the Bomb a bargain at $330,000, as he was Hit It a Bomb's most expensive yearling by far and one of only two to bring six figures, it had to take nerves of steel to buy a yearling by an unproven sire for so far over that stallion's average and median. McPeek has been rewarded with Hit It a Bomb's most successful runner to date. The War Front stallion, who stands at Spendthrift and was winner of the 2015 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf, has two graded winners and three black-type winners from two small crops to race.

In contrast, broodmare sire Tiznow, who is pensioned at WinStar, is no stranger to the stakes scene as he has 52 black-type winners out of his daughters, including GI Belmont S./GI Travers S./GI Florida Derby/GI Champagne S. winner Tiz the Law (Constitution), who was also second in the 2020 GI Kentucky Derby.

Tiz the Bomb was bred by Spendthrift after the farm had purchased Tiz the Key for $330,000–the same price her son would eventually bring–as a 2012 Keeneland September yearling. She's been bred exclusively to Spendthrift stallions, with 2-year-old filly Bel Rosso (Free Drop Billy), who sold for $180,000 at FTKOCT to Rocket Ship Racing, and a yearling colt by Mor Spirit in the pipeline. She delivered a Gormley filly Feb. 25. Tiz the Key hails from one of the best families in the stud book, as her fourth dam is Gay Missile (Sir Gaylord). Among Gay Missile's several influential foals were Lassie Dear (Buckpasser), dam of Broodmare of the Year Weekend Surprise (Secretariat), who in turn produced A.P. Indy (Seattle Slew). Gay Missile was out of blue hen Missy Baba (My Babu {Fr}), whose notable foals included Broodmare of the Year Toll Booth (Buckpasser).

Saturday, Turfway Park
JEFF RUBY STEAKS S.-GIII, $600,000, Turfway, 4-2, 3yo, 1 1/8m (AWT), 1:48.60, ft.
1–TIZ THE BOMB, 123, c, 3, by Hit It a Bomb
1st Dam: Tiz the Key, by Tiznow
2nd Dam: Cabbage Key, by A.P. Indy
3rd Dam: Mayville's Magic, by Gone West
($330,000 Ylg '20 FTKSEL). O-Magdalena Racing, Lessee;
B-Spendthrift Farm, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Brian
Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $351,400. Lifetime Record: GISP,
8-5-1-0, $1,044,401. Werk Nick Rating: A+.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Tawny Port, 123, c, 3, Pioneerof the Nile–Livi Makenzie, by
Macho Uno. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE.
($430,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Peachtree Stable; B-WinStar
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $114,000.
3–Rich Strike, 123, c, 3, Keen Ice–Gold Strike, by Smart Strike.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-RED TR-Racing, LLC; B-Calumet
Farm (KY); T-Eric R. Reed. $57,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, 3HF, 3/4. Odds: 1.60, 3.70, 26.20.
Also Ran: Dowagiac Chief, Royal Spirit, Cabo Spirit, Stolen Base, Red Run, Constitutionlawyer, Swing Shift, Great Escape, Optigogo. Scratched: Blackadder. 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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Envoutante Ships In For Beholder Mile

Four of the previous five winners of the GI Beholder Mile were either already in possession of an Eclipse Award or would go on to become a champion later in their career. The Ken McPeek-conditioned 2020 champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) made light work of last year's renewal and the barn will look to defend their title this weekend with Walking L Thoroughbreds and Three Chimneys Farm's Envoutante (Uncle Mo).

Same as she did during her 3-year-old season in 2020, the dark bay was kept busy with seven starts last term, good for a record of 2-1-2. Runner-up to Shedaresthedevil (Daredevil) in the GI La Troienne S. on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard Apr. 30, Envoutante was the easy winner of the Shawnee S. at Churchill in late May, then was third to Letruska (Super Saver) after being somewhat conservatively ridden in the GII Fleur de Lis S. the following month. Third to Shedaresthedevil in Churchill's GIII Locust Grove S. Sept. 18, she beat just one home when fifth in the GI Juddmonte Spinster S. at Keeneland Oct. 10, but overwhelmed her rivals to successfully defend her GII Falls City S. title, defeating Bonny South (Munnings) by the same six-length margin as she did 12 months prior.

As Time Goes By (American Pharoah) has the home field advantage as she tries to become the second top-level dirt scorer for her sire. Clearly runner-up in last year's race, the homebred daughter of the outstanding Take Charge Lady (Dehere) was successful no fewer than four times at the graded level, annexing the GII Santa Margarita S. (by 9 1/4 lengths) in and the GII Santa Maria S. in the springtime, the GIII Bayakoa S. in December and a latest 13 1/2-length romp in the GIII La Canada S. on New Year's Day.

While the Beholder looks all over a two-horse affair, the in-form Miss Bigly (Gemologist) could be the one to pick up a valuable Grade I placing. Second to Envoutante in the Shawnee, the 6-year-old was second in the Jan. 8 Pippin S. at Oaklawn and most recently annexed that track's GIII Bayakoa S. Feb. 12.

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Fountain of Youth Has A Little Something For Everyone

If variety is the spice of life, Saturday's GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park is certain to set your taste buds on fire, as a legitimate case can be made for as many as seven of the 11 horses left in the final local lead-up for the GI Curlin Florida Derby in four weeks' time.

With the mid-week scratching of GII Remsen S. winner Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo), Fountain of Youth favoritism could fall to Simplification, one of three in the race by boom sire Not This Time that will line up alongside one another in gates two, three and four. Having broken his maiden against fellow Florida-breds by nearly 17 lengths last October, the bay wired the field in the Jan. 1 Mucho Macho Man S. by a convincing four lengths going a mile, but was unprepared for the start of the Feb. 5 GIII Holy Bull S. last time and was ridden quietly by Javier Castellano. Despite a wide passage, he ran on bravely and just held off Mo Donegal for second while covering 37 more feet (about 3 3/4 lengths) more than the victorious White Abarrio (Race Day). His new-found versatility could serve him well in a race that maps above par on paper.

“The bad news in his last race, he didn't win. The good news, we know he can run from behind and run in the front,” said trainer Antonio Sano, who won the 2017 renewal with Gunnevera (Dialed In). “Each day, he is a more serious horse. Maybe before he was a little green, but right now, he has more concentration.”

He figures to need his very best against some high-class rivals. Rattle N Roll (Connect) makes his first start since a visually impressive, but modestly rated victory in the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland Oct. 9. The $210,000 Keeneland September graduate was forced to miss the Breeders' Cup, but has been training well over this strip. His five-furlong breeze in :58 3/5 Feb. 26 was one tick slower than the time recorded by Howling Time (Not This Time), and whatever he does here, should come on for the effort.

“He's a beautiful horse to be around. He's a bit of a set-up horse,” commented trainer Kenny McPeek, who has never won this race despite his considerable success with 3-year-olds. “He needs pace in front of him. That's out of our control, but we're looking to get two races into him before Kentucky and go from there.”

The last of the Not This Time troika is the highly progressive In Due Time, who crushed the heavily backed Todd Pletcher duo of 'TDN Rising Star' American Icon (Gun Runner) and Iron Works (Distorted Humor) by 5 3/4-lengths in a first-level allowance going the one-turn mile Feb. 4. The 92 Beyer assigned to the Kelly Breen trainee is the joint-highest in Saturday's field and fastest going eight furlongs and beyond.

Another horse on the come is 'TDN Rising Star' Emmanuel (More Than Ready), who looks for his third win in as many appearances in his graded stakes debut. While not beating much when graduating by 6 3/4 front-running lengths going the mile here Dec. 11–his nine beaten rivals are since 1-15 with several class droppers–he did it the right way and backed up the performance in no uncertain terms with a smooth Tampa allowance score Jan. 30 around two turns in which he controlled the pace and kicked home smartly in the final furlong.

High Oak (Gormley) upset last year's GII Saratoga Special S., soundly defeating Gunite (Gun Runner) in the process, but was better than nine lengths adrift of that one when last seen in the GI Hopeful S. Sept. 6. A recent Payson bullet could see him on or near the front. Markhamian (Social Inclusion) is also likely to be ridden for speed from his rail draw and tries a route of ground off a 2 1/2-length victory in the Jan. 15 Pasco S. at Tampa. Dean Delivers (Cajun Breeze), the GIII Swale S. runner-up whose three losses have come by one length combined, could also be forwardly placed, but may be up against it if a fast pace materializes.

Trainer Dale Romans told Daily Racing Form that he is leaning towards scratching GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile third Giant Game (Giant's Causeway) in favor of the GII Tampa Bay Derby or the GI Toyota Blue Grass S.

The Fountain of Youth is last of seven races that will be carried live on CNBC beginning at 4 p.m. ET as part of the '1/ST Saturday' Triple Crown series from Gulfstream and Santa Anita.

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