Ken McPeek | Horse Racing Free Tips

Late-Running Harvey Wallbanger Needs The Right Pace Setup In Sea Of Tranquility Stakes

Trainer Kenny McPeek, who made a year-round commitment to South Florida racing when he purchased Summerfield Training Center in Marion County last year, will be represented by graded-stakes winner Harvey Wallbanger in Saturday's $60,000 Sea of Tranquility Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

McPeek, who put the finishing touches on a productive 2019-2020 Championship Meet by saddling Swiss Skydiver for a 3 ¾-length victory in the $200,000 Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), is maintaining a stable at Gulfstream Park during the Spring/Summer Meet for the first time.

“We've got a significant number of young horses that are based at Summerfield now. We're able to rest and rehab older horses and younger horses, there, and then rotate them. If some need to come north [to Kentucky] or if they need to go back to Gulfstream, we have those options,” said McPeek, who has saddled Swiss Skydiver for subsequent victories in the Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn Park and Santa Anita Oaks (G2) and a second-place finish against the boys in the Blue Grass (G2) at Keeneland. “I think, logistically, it's a pretty good setup. I think we're going to be even more successful than we were this year.”

It makes perfect sense that Harvey Wallbanger was one of the older horses McPeek opted to keep at Gulfstream for the Spring/Summer Meet. The 4-year-old son of Congrats has been his most productive while running at Gulfstream during his career. After breaking his maiden at Churchill Downs in November 2018, Harvey Wallbanger pulled off a 29-1 upset victory in the 2019 Holy Bull (G2) at Gulfstream with a stunning last-to-first performance.

The Kentucky-bred colt subsequently hit somewhat of a rough patch during an eight-race losing streak that included an off-the-board finish in the Korea Cup at Seoul Racecourse. He returned to winning form during the past Championship Meet in dramatic fashion, again closing from last to score by more than five lengths in a Feb. 29 optional claiming allowance.

“He's a set-up horse. When things go his way and unfold in front of him, he can make his run and be right there,” said McPeek, who co-owns the stretch-running veteran with Harold Lerner LLC, AWC Stables, Nehoc Stables, Scott Akman, Paul Braverman and David Bernsen LLC.

Harvey Wallbanger will be looking to rebound from an off-the-board finish in the March 28 Hal's Hope (G3).

“He's doing fine. I think it's a good first start back for him. He likes the track at Gulfstream. He's had some successes there,” McPeek said. “Our expectations are pretty high. I don't think it's an easy race by any means, but he fits.”

Hall of Famer Edgar Prado has the call on Harvey Wallbanger, who is scheduled to meet six rivals in the 1 1/16-mile overnight stakes for 3-year-olds and up.

St. George Stable LLC's Kukulkan, also a horse that has shown a fondness for the Gulfstream track, is scheduled to make a return off a six-month layoff since an off-the-board finish in the Louisiana (G3) at Fair Grounds. The Fausto Gutierrez-trained 5-year-old son of Point Determined first ventured to Gulfstream for the Clasico del Caribe in December 2018. The 2018 Mexican Triple Crown champion with an undefeated record captured the prestigious race for 3-year-olds by 10 ½ lengths.

After incurring his first loss in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) seven weeks later, Kukulkan captured an allowance race at Churchill Downs off a four-month layoff. He became graded stakes-placed two starts later while finishing second, beaten a half-length by Silver Dust, in the West Virginia Governor's Cup (G3). He went to the sidelines after finishing off the board in the Lukas Classic (G3) at Churchill last September.

The Mexican-bred Kukulkan again came off a layoff impressively, scoring by a dominating six lengths in the Copa Confraternidad del Caribe on the Dec. 8 Clasico International del Caribe program at Gulfstream.

“He is training very good. This is a good race for him,” said Gutierrez, who has enjoyed considerable success at Gulfstream this year since transferring his stable from Mexico to Palm Meadows, Gulfstream's satellite training center in Palm Beach County. “He likes the track at Gulfstream.”

Miguel Vasquez, who ranks second in the Spring/Summer Meet standings, is scheduled to ride Kukulkan for the first time Saturday.

Gelfenstein Farm LLC's Identifier will be looking to rebound off a 12th-place finish in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2) Saturday. The Oscar Gonzalez-trained 4-year-old son of Creative Cause previously pulled off a 60-1 upset victory in the Hal's Hope, in which Harvey Wallbanger finished well back.

Marcos Meneses, who was aboard for the Hal's Hope, has the call.

Trainer Steve Budhoo's Eye of a Jedi, who won the Sea of Tranquility last year, captured the June 13 Coaltown Handicap over multiple graded-stakes winner Diamond Oops at 17-1. He rallied under Meneses to win by 1 ¼ lengths while being in receipt of seven pounds from Diamond Oops.

Hector Berrios is scheduled to ride Eye of a Jedi for the first time Saturday.

Harold Queen's Noble Drama, a multiple-stakes winner trained by David Fawkes, will seek to rebound from a sixth-place finish in the Coaltown Handicap. The 5-year-old son of Gone Astray will be reunited with Emisael Jaramillo, who scored back-to-back wins aboard the homebred gelding in an optional claiming allowance and the Sunshine Millions Sprint during the Championship Meet.

IAB Stables and Walter Fralick's Quenane and Equine Authority Inc.'s Red Crescent, a pair of rugged veteran stakes performers, round out the field. Cristian Torres is named to ride Quenane, whom he guided to an optional claiming win last time out. Samy Camacho, who rode Red Crescent to a third-place finish in the Coaltown Handicap, has the return call Saturday.

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The Week in Review: The Race Everyone Wants to See, Midnight Bisou Vs. Monomoy Girl

The running of the GII Ruffian S. Saturday at Belmont lacked the sizzle that was part of the narrative for several other major races over the weekend, but that wasn’t the fault of Monomoy Girl (Tapizar). She did exactly what was asked of her. She showed up and beat four overmatched horses in an effort that was more perfunctory than impressive.

“This was a nice race for her to come back into stakes competition and now we can tackle some bigger races and a tougher field, too,” jockey Florent Geroux said.

Exactly.

With Monomoy Girl coming back off an 18-month layoff, trainer Brad Cox was in no hurry to throw her to the wolves. He started her off in an allowance race at Churchill Downs and then in the one-mile, one-turn Ruffian, a race that didn’t figure to include a stellar group of opponents for the 2018 Eclipse Award winner. But the time has come for Cox to get more aggressive and point for a race that will be a truer test.

There are a lot of good storylines out there this year. How far can Tiz the Law (Constitution) go in the strangest Triple Crown ever? What will Maximum Security (New Year’s Day) look like when he comes back for new trainer Bob Baffert? At age seven, will Tom’s d’Etat (Smart Strike) continue to thrive for trainer Al Stall, Jr. and be named Horse of the Year?

But nothing would compare to a rematch between Monomoy Girl and Midnight Bisou (Midnight Lute). It’s enough that it would be a showdown between two superstar mares, but it’s the intrigue, uncertainties and twists that would make this such an exciting, unpredictable “good-for-the game” race.

The story of the rivalry between the two begins in the 2018 GI Kentucky Oaks. Monomoy Girl won that day and Midnight Bisou was third. She beat her again in the GI Coaching Club American Oaks. In the GI Cotillion S. at Parx, Monomoy Girl crossed the wire in front, but was disqualified for bothering Midnight Bisou, who was placed first. Monomoy Girl was first in the 2018 GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff and Midnight Bisou was third, making it a perfect four-for-four in terms of which filly crossed the wire ahead of the other.

With Monomoy Girl sidelined throughout 2019, Midnight Bisou flourished. She went seven for eight last year and was named champion older filly or mare. She’s been every bit as good, if not better, this year, finishing second when going against males in the $20-million Saudi Cup and then returning with a flourish, an 8 1/4-length winner in the GII Fleur de Lis S. at Churchill. She’s scheduled to go next in the GI Personal Ensign S. at Saratoga Aug. 1.

That’s what we know. What we don’t know is who the better horse is today, Midnight Bisou or Monomoy Girl? It could be that Midnight Bisou took full advantage of Monomoy Girl’s absence and would not have done nearly as well if her rival were standing in her way. Or has Midnight Bisou improved so much that she is now the better horse of the two?

The only way to find out is for them to meet on the racetrack.

The most likely spot for that to happen would ordinarily be in the GI Breeders’ Cup Distaff, but there’s no certainty both will be there because Midnight Bisou’s connections have said their horse may run in the GI Breeders’ Cup Classic. There is still the possibility, however, that both could land in the same prep for the Breeders’ Cup, perhaps in the GII Beldame S. at Belmont or, more likely, the GI Spinster S. at Keeneland.

More often than not, the stars don’t align when it comes to getting star horses into the gate to face one another. Rachel Alexandra never did face Zenyatta. But this one might be different. The ownership groups behind both horses have already shown that they are game for anything. Midnight Bisou was slated to be retired at the end of last year, but came back for another season, which has included an adventurous trip to Saudi Arabia. The Monomoy Girl camp endured 18 months away from the races and brought their horse back when many would have retired her. Neither one is afraid of a challenge or will duck anyone. Whether it’s in the Breeders’ Cup or in a fall prep, they very well could face one another.

Should they meet, I would back Monomoy Girl. Until Midnight Bisou proves she can beat her, I can’t get past those four races in 2018 and Monomoy Girl looks like the time away has done nothing to diminish her skills. But the fun won’t be in being right or wrong, but in seeing two of the best of their generation proving their superiority on the racetrack. Fingers crossed that it happens.

Kudos to Swiss Skydiver and Her Team

Trainer Kenny McPeek and owner Peter Callahan could have gone the safe route and run Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) against fillies in the GI Central Bank Ashland S., a race she likely would have won. Instead, they decided to run their filly against boys in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S.

In the end, it may have cost them a Grade I win and the winner’s share of a $400,000 purse, but they need not look back or have any regrets. They are a rare pair that figured out that sometimes it’s worth giving your horse the ultimate test and trying to make history. Had Swiss Skydiver run seventh, they might have looked foolish. But she put in a valiant effort and finished second behind a quickly rising star in Art Collector (Bernardini). In defeat, she earned more respect and admiration than she possibly could have achieved by beating fillies for a fourth straight time in the Ashland.

Swiss Skydriver earned enough points to run in the GI Kentucky Derby, but McPeek said the GI Kentucky Oaks is now the plan. That’s the right choice. If she couldn’t win the Blue Grass, she’s not a Derby winner. What she is is an outstanding filly who put in a valiant effort for an owner and trainer who made this a Blue Grass to remember.

Keeneland Sheds Light on Late Odds Drops

There was another race last week where the odds plummeted on a horse at the very last second and, of course, the horse won. This time it happened at Keeneland. In the sixth race Friday, the odds on Early Mischief (Into Mischief) dropped from 10-1 to 5-1, which didn’t show up until the race was underway.

Someone at Keeneland understood how bad this must have looked. These odds drops are the result of the computer/rebate players pounding the pools at the very last second, betting so much that they can cause massive odds shifts. There’s nothing illegal about this, but every time it happens, it leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth and leads some to believe the game is rigged. It’s a serious problem.

Keeneland decided to inform the public of exactly what happened. They investigated and then issued a statement, revealing that $16,000 was bet to win on Early Mischief in the last betting cycle. That same cycle accounted for 26% of the win pool.

That doesn’t solve a problem that is not going to go away, but Keeneland did everything it could to be transparent and let the wagering public know that it had their backs. Other tracks need to follow Keeneland’s lead.

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Swiss Skydiver Entered In Blue Grass; McPeek Trainee Only Second Filly To Contest Keeneland’s Biggest Derby Prep

Multiple graded stakes winner Swiss Skydiver is scheduled to become the second filly to run in the Grade 2 Blue Grass Stakes since it debuted at Keeneland during the track's inaugural Spring Meet in April 1937.

The 3-year-old daughter of Daredevil drew post seven of 13 entrants in Saturday's contest, which offers the winner 100 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Swiss Skydiver already tops the points standings for the Kentucky Oaks, with wins in the Gulfstream Oaks, Fantasy Stakes, and Santa Anita Oaks on her resume.

The Blue Grass will be the filly's first start against males, and she'll again be partnered by Hall of Fame jockey Mike Smith.

The first filly to run in the Blue Grass was Hyman Friedberg's homebred Harriet Sue, who in 1944 won the Ashland and next was fifth to Skytracer in the Blue Grass. That year, Keeneland's Spring Meet was held at Churchill Downs. In 1948, future Hall of Famer Bewitch was scratched from the Blue Grass.

This year's Blue Grass field is as follows:

Post	Horse	Trainer	Jockey
1	Shivaree	Ralph Nicks	John Velazquez
2	Finnick the Fierce	Rey Hernandez	Jose Ortiz
3	Art Collector	Tom Drury Jr.	Brian Hernandez Jr.
4	Mr. Big News	Bret Calhoun	Mitchell Murrill
5	Man in the Can	Ron Moquett	Tyler Gaffalione
6	Hard Lighting	Alexis Delgado	Rafael Bejarano
7	Swiss Skydiver	Kenny McPeek	Mike Smith
8	Basin	Steve Asmussen	Ricardo Santana Jr.
9	Attachment Rate	Dale Romans	Luis Saez
10	Rushie	Michael McCarthy	Javier Castellano
11	Hunt the Front	Nick Zito	Corey Lanerie
12	Enforceable	Mark Casse	Joel Rosario
13	Tiesto	Bill Mott	Flavien Prat

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Swiss Skydiver to Take on Boys in the Blue Grass

The filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) will be out to make history Saturday when she takes on males in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland. No filly has ever won the prestigious race.

Trainer Kenny McPeek had nominated Swiss Skydiver for both the Blue Grass and the GI Ashland S. for fillies. He waited until Wednesday morning, shortly before the draw, to make his decision. He said a major factor was that he has another filly for the Ashland in Envoutante (Uncle Mo).

“In any other year, this would have been an easier decision, but I have Envoutante running in the Ashland and I think she has a big chance there,” he said. “I hate running entries where you know you are going to beat yourself with one or the other. [Owner] Peter Callahan is as game as Dick Tracy and I am too. I do think it will be fun. If she can jump through this hoop great. If she can’t we will backtrack and go to the [GI] Alabama or just wait for the [GI] Kentucky Oaks.”

Envoutante, who is owned by Walking L Thoroughbreds, LLC and Three Chimneys Farm, won an allowance race at Churchill in her last start.

Another factor McPeek considered was the weights.

“I like the fact she is getting a pretty good weight break,” he said. “She’ll carry 118 and gets six pounds off her last race. Some of the colts will pick up weight off their last races. How much difference does that make, it’s hard to say? She’s a big filly. She weighs 1,100 pounds. The weights are an edge and that’s why it is there.”

McPeek also found a year in which the Blue Grass did not come up with a stellar field. Repositioned to the summer because Keeneland had to cancel its spring meet due to the coronavirus, the Blue Grass is sandwiched among a number of stakes for 3-year-olds, all of them vying for the top talent

“A lot of the colts in this race are big question marks,” McPeek said. “It’s questionable if they want to go that far or whether they want to race at that level. The fillies that are running in the Ashland are good filles. Envoutante is not a stakes winner, but she’s a good filly in her own right. None of the colts in the Blue Grass have won a graded race this year. [Swiss Skydiver] has proven herself in her last three starts. It would be pretty cool to win the Blue Grass with a filly.”

The Blue Grass purse is $600,000. The Ashland purse is $400,000.

A Blue Grass victory would give Swiss Skydiver enough points to make it into the field for the GI Kentucky Derby. She is nominated to the Triple Crown. When asked if a Blue Grass win would mean a Derby start for Swiss Skydiver, McPeek replied: “It might. I know if she can’t win this then she’s not a Derby horse. A loss would answer that question.”

Only one other filly has started in the Blue Grass. Coming off a win in the Ashland, Harriet Sue ran fifth in the 1944 Blue Grass.

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