Ken McPeek | Horse Racing Free Tips

Stephen Foster Preview Day Headlines Saturday’s Graded Action

Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll (Connect), winner of this term's GIII Ben Ali S. Apr. 22 and GIII Pimlico Special S. May 19, is the horse to beat returning on short notice in Saturday's GIII Blame S., the featured race on “Stephen Foster Preview Day” at Churchill Downs. The $1-million GI Stephen Foster will now be held four weeks later at Ellis Park.

The Ken McPeek-trained 2021 GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner will face seven rivals from his rail draw, including the re-opposing Ben Ali second and third-place finishers Call Me Fast (Dialed In) and Pioneer of Medina (Pioneerof the Nile); and grassy MGISW Santin (Distorted Humor), who makes his first career start on dirt.

The 11-race Churchill Downs program also includes: the GIII Arlington S., led by 8-5 morning-line favorite and MGSW 7-year-old gelding Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}); the GIII Shawnee S., featuring the streaking Frost Point (Frosted) and GISW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit); a field of six 3-year-old fillies in the grassy GIII Regret S.; the return of last out G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen winner Sibelius (Not This Time) in the $225,000 Aristides S.; and the $225,000 Audubon S. for 3-year-olds on grass.

Silver Knott (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and 'TDN Rising Star' Far Bridge (English Channel), meanwhile, figure to vie for favoritism in Belmont's GII Pennine Ridge S. The former, 11th in the G1 Qipco 2000 Guineas May 6, came within a nose as the favorite in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf at Keeneland Nov. 4. Far Bridge suffered his first career defeat falling just a nose short while making his stakes debut in the GII American Turf S. on the GI Kentucky Derby undercard.

The Alys Look (Connect), a respectable third at 30-1 for trainer Brad Cox in the GI Kentucky Oaks, makes her first start for Chris Davis in the GII Summertime Oaks at Santa Anita. The Ike and Dawn Thrash colorbearer faces six rivals, including GII Santa Anita Oaks second and third-place finishers And Tell Me Nolies (Arrogate) and Window Shopping (American Pharoah); and last-out seven-furlong optional claiming winners Anywho (Bolt d'Oro) and Doinitthehardway (Street Sense).

A pair of graded stakes will also take place at Woodbine–the GIII Belle Mahone S., highlighted by the return of Canadian Horse of the Year and Queen's Plate S. heroine Moira (Ghostzapper); and a field of 11 for the GII Royal North S.

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Smile Happy To Point For Stephen Foster

Lucky Seven Stable's 'TDN Rising Star' Smile Happy (Runhappy), impressive winner of the GII Alysheba S. on the GI Kentucky Oaks undercard at Churchill Downs May 5, will make his next start in the $1-million GI Stephen Foster S. July 1, trainer Ken McPeek told the track's media office Friday.

Eighth in last year's GI Kentucky Derby, the $185,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase graduate returned from a 10-month absence with an impressive allowance victory at Oaklawn Park Mar. 16 and was a good third in the GIII Oaklawn Mile Apr. 1 before defeating GI Pegasus World Cup hero Art Collector (Bernardini) by two lengths at odds of 7-1 in the Alysheba. He received a lofty 110 Beyer Speed Figure for the effort, the highest number over a mile thus far in 2023.

McPeek reported that the commonly owned Rattle N Roll (Connect), last-out winner of the GIII Ben Ali S. at Keeneland Apr. 22, will go next in the GIII Blame S. on Stephen Foster Preview Day Saturday, June 3.

The Foster offers the winner an all-expenses-paid berth in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic as part of the Breeders' Cup Challenge Series.

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Defining Purpose To Prep For Oaks at Churchill

Defining Purpose (Cross Traffic), upset winner of the GI Central Bank Ashland S. at Keeneland Apr. 7, will ship to Churchill Downs either this coming Monday or Tuesday to prepare for a start in the GI Longines Kentucky Oaks May 5.

“Defining Purpose came to us in late spring last year,” said trainer Ken McPeek, who was unsaddling an Ashland winner for the third time in his career. “She is the first horse I have received from Collete Vanmatre. She told me to see what I thought of her and we put her in our program. From the beginning, she was always very forward. Very enthusiastic and liked her job. She did everything we ever asked.”

Amelia Green, assistant to trainer Todd Pletcher indicated that 'TDN Rising Star' Julia Shining (Curlin), a close third in the Ashland, emerged from the effort none the worse for wear and is scheduled to ship across to Louisville Apr. 16 for a potential Oaks bid. The Stonestreet runner currently has 46 points, good for 14th place in the standings, which could leave her on the outside looking in depending on the other results from Saturday. Punchbowl (Uncle Mo) picked up 40 points towards the Oaks and could find herself in a similar quandary as Julia Shining regarding an Oaks berth.

Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) was good enough to be named the champion of her generation last season, but also faces a somewhat uncertain fate for the first Friday in May. The GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner has amassed 48 points, currently 12th in the standings. She was only sixth in the Ashland.

“She's good this morning, but yesterday, it just wasn't her day,” trainer Mark Casse said. “We'll take her to Churchill and see how she trains, but she may not get in [to the Oaks].”

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Cross Traffic Filly Upsets Ashland for McPeek

Defining Purpose (f, 3, Cross Traffic–Defining Hope, by Strong Hope) lit up the tote board at 20-1 to upset Friday's GI Central Bank Ashland S. on opening day at Keeneland.

The gray sat a dream trip in a stalking second behind a longshot leader through fractions of :23.62 and :47.25. She turned up the heat rounding the far turn, gained command at the top of the stretch, and, after enjoying a clear lead down the lane, held the rallying duo of previously unbeaten and favored Punchbowl (Uncle Mo) and 'TDN Rising Star' Julia Shining (Curlin) safe by a diminishing half-length. Last year's GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine and champion 2-year-old filly Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief) never factored while sixth.

Defining Purpose posted a six-length maiden win going two turns at Churchill Downs at second asking in an auction-restricted maiden special weight Nov. 17. Fifth at 22-1 in the GII Golden Rod S. Nov. 26, she concluded her juvenile campaign with a strong win with first-time Lasix in Oaklawn's Year's End S. Dec. 31. She made two previous starts at Oaklawn this term–both against potential GI Kentucky Oaks favorite Wet Paint (Blame)–finishing third as the favorite after leading in the stretch in the Martha Washington S. Jan. 28 and a flat sixth in the slop in the GIII Honeybee S. last time Feb. 25.

Defining Purpose's Ashland win was good for 100 Kentucky Oaks points.

“I'm not overly surprised,” said winning trainer Ken McPeek, who also won this race in 2002 with Take Charge Lady and in 2014 with Rosalind. “She had a couple of reasons why–she fell off a little bit of form in her last two. She hooked a couple of muddy racetracks. The last trip she had was really wide and wider.”

Winning rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. added, “[Her early position] was great. When she went around the first turn and got her position so nice and smoothly and settled into a nice rhythm, going down the backside I was just thinking to myself, 'Be patient, just wait and wait and let her travel well.' And that's what she did. When she turned for home she kicked on, and with the short stretch to the sixteenth pole, I was pretty confident in her.”

Pedigree Notes:

Defining Purpose, a $14,000 KEEJAN RNA as a short yearling, becomes the second graded winner, both at the highest level, for Cross Traffic, who is also represented by champion Jaywalk. The 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies heroine was third in this same race the following season. She becomes the third graded winner for broodmare sire Strong Hope.

The Indiana-bred Defining Hope, a three-time stakes-winning homebred for Colette M. Vanmatre, is also represented by the 2-year-old filly Defining Joy (Runhappy) and a Csaba filly of this year.

Friday, Keeneland
CENTRAL BANK ASHLAND S.-GI, $600,000, Keeneland, 4-7, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.31, ft.
1–DEFINING PURPOSE, 121, f, 3, by Cross Traffic
                1st Dam: Defining Hope (MSW, $306,238), by Strong Hope
                2nd Dam: On the Point, by Point Given
                3rd Dam: Longingtobeme, by Belong to Me
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN, 1ST GRADE I WIN. ($14,000 RNA
Ylg '21 KEEJAN). O-Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek), Colette
Marie VanMatre and James Ball; B-Colette Marie VanMatre
(KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
$362,700. Lifetime Record: 7-3-0-1, $543,688. Werk Nick
Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Punchbowl, 121, f, 3, by Uncle Mo
                1st Dam: Devilish Lady (GSW, $400,318), by Sweetsouthernsaint
                2nd Dam: Devilish Brunette, by Diablo
                3rd Dam: Appealing Brunette, by Valid Appeal
1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox.
$117,000.
3–Julia Shining, 121, f, 3, by Curlin
                1st Dam: Dreaming of Julia (GISW, $874,500), by A.P. Indy
                2nd Dam: Dream Rush, by Wild Rush
                3rd Dam: Turbo Dream, by Unbridled
1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star'. O/B-Stonestreet
Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $58,500.
Margins: HF, NK, 3 1/4. Odds: 20.34, 1.26, 5.21.
Also Ran: Guns n' Graces, Effortlesslyelgant, Wonder Wheel, Pride of the Nile.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.

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