Kenny McPeek | Horse Racing Free Tips

Battle Is On Between Hernandez Jr., Gaffalione For Churchill Meet Title

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. entered Sunday's closing day program of the September Meet in pursuit of his second leading rider title at Churchill Downs and held a two-win margin, 14-12, over five-time titlist Tyler Gaffalione.

Hernandez, who recorded his 700th career win beneath the Twin Spires Thursday and winner of the 2018 Spring Meet title, had mounts in Races 8-10 while five-time local leader Gaffalione had calls in Races 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 and 10.

Jockey Joe Talamo entered Sunday in third with 10 wins but would have to win with all five of his mounts (Races 3, 4, 7, 8 and 10) to surpass Hernandez.

In the leading trainer standings, Kenny McPeek held an 8-7 win lead over Steve Asmussen. McPeek, a three-time Churchill Downs leading trainer, had four horses entered across three races (7, 8 and 10) while record 24-time leading trainer Asmussen had six runners in four races (6, 7, 9 and 10). Dale Romans, a 14-time Churchill Downs top trainer, was third in the standings with six wins and could tie McPeek with two entries (8 and 10).

The partnership of WinStar Farm (2018 September Meet co-leading owners) and Siena Farm led all owners with three wins but does not have any entries Sunday. Columbine Stable and Lothenbach Stables were both one win behind. Columbine Stable, winner of the 2019 Fall Meet title, had one entry in Race 6 while Lothenbach Stables had runners in Races 3 and 10. Courtlandt Farms could tie WinStar Farm and Siena Farm with entrants in Races 9 and 10.

All presentations for the September Meet champions will take place in the Woodford Reserve Winner's Circle immediately after the final race of the meet.

Racing in Kentucky will transition to Keeneland for their Fall Meet beginning on Oct. 8. The Churchill Downs Fall Meet will begin Sunday, Oct. 31 with “Stars of Tomorrow I” featuring all 2-year-old races. For more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

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King Fury Gets 97 Brisnet Speed Rating For Bourbon Trail Win

Fern Circle Stable and Three Chimneys Farm's classy multiple stakes winner King Fury earned a stout 97 Brisnet speed rating for his scintillating 13-length victory Saturday in the first running of the $275,000 Bourbon Trail at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, King Fury's final 1 3/16 clocking was 1:56.01, which was just .04 off the track record set by Idol last November.

Also on Saturday's card, Columbine Stable's Carribean Caper earned a 93 Brisnet speed rating for her six-length romp in the $275,000 Grade 3 Dogwood, and SAB Stable's Everett's Song earned a 93 Brisnet speed rating for his closing win in the $275,000 Harrods Creek.

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Crazy Beautiful Headlines Friday’s Seneca At Churchill

Phoenix Thoroughbred's three-time graded stakes winner Crazy Beautiful headlines a field of seven 3-year-old fillies that were entered in Friday's $160,000 Seneca Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky.

The 1 1/16-mile Seneca Overnight Stakes was carded as the featured ninth race on Friday's 10-race card with a post time of 4:55 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.

Trained by Kenny McPeek, Crazy Beautiful has recorded three victories from six starts in her 3-year-old campaign with wins in the $300,000 Grade 3 Delaware Oaks, $200,000 Grade 2 Summertime Oaks, and $200,000 Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks. The well-traveled filly by Liam's Map has competed at seven different racetracks since she began her career July 5, 2020, at Ellis Park in Henderson, Ky., but she has yet to record a win at Churchill Downs. Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount from post No. 6.

The complete field for the Seneca Overnight Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Illiogami (Julien Leparoux, Rusty Arnold); Moon Swag (Florent Geroux, Brendan Walsh); Double Dawn (Chase Miller Waylon Cundiff); Time for Glory (Colby Hernandez, Lynn Cash); Played Hard (Tyler Gaffalione, Phil Bauer); Crazy Beautiful (Hernandez, McPeek); and Oliviaofthedesert (Corey Lanerie, McPeek).

Wagering is available on www.TwinSpires.com, the official ADW of Churchill Downs Incorporated and its family of racetracks.

Next week will close out the 12-day September Meet at Churchill Downs. Thursday is the final Twilight Thursday presented by Blue Moon of the calendar year. The eight-race program has a first post of 5 p.m. and features $1 Blue Moon and select domestic beer, local food trucks, and live music from Roadie on the Plaza Stage. Friday-Sunday's racing has a first post of 12:45 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com/tickets.

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King Fury Dominant In Bourbon Trail Stakes At Churchill

Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimney Farm LLC's King Fury proved he was much the best in the inaugural running of the $275,000 Bourbon Trail ® for 3-year-olds on Saturday at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., as he widen his advantage without urging down the stretch en route to a 13-length romp over Bourbon Thunder.

Trained by Kenny McPeek and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., King Fury covered the 1 3/16 miles on a fast main track in 1:56.01, just :04 off Idol's 2020 track record of 1:55.97.

“He was really impressive today,” McPeek said. “We're very proud of how he ran. He's a really talented horse and showed that today.”

The field of seven sophomores was compact heading into the first turn as King's Ovation emerged with a slight advantage over Dr. Jack through moderate early clips of :23.71 and :48.13. Heading onto the backstretch, King Fury was rated in sixth but was only a couple of lengths off the lead. After a half-mile, King Fury was advanced through a seam by Hernandez and drew within striking distance. Dr. Jack took over on the turn after six furlongs in 1:12.05 but King Fury loomed on the outside, took command leaving the final turn, and powered home down the stretch as Hernandez sat still in the saddle except to throw a couple of crosses with the reins.

The victory was worth $166,710 and increased King Fury's earnings to $579,449 with a record of 4-1-0 in 10 starts. Three of his wins have come at Churchill Downs, including a maiden win and stakes victory in the $98,000 Street Sense last year as a 2-year-old.

Previously, King Fury finished fifth of seven in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Travers at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Earlier this year, he won the $200,000 Grade 3 Lexington at Keeneland Race Course in Lexington, Ky., and finished second to Masqueparade in the $500,000 Grade 3 Ohio Derby at Thistledown in North Randall, Ohio.

“With a horse like this, you just really have to stay out of their way,” Hernandez Jr. said. “He's run in some tough races this year and today he was able to settle in nicely at the rail around the first turn and turning for home he got clear and was much the best.”

King Fury is a Kentucky-bred son of Curlin out of the Grade I-winning Flatter mare Taris and was bred by Heider Family Stables. Fern Circle Stables' Paul Fireman paid $950,000 to acquire King Fury at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga Select Yearling Sale.

King Fury returned $3.00, $2.60, and $2.10 as the odds-on 1-2 favorite. Bourbon Thunder, who rallied for second under Chris Landeros, returned $4.20 and $3.20 with Dr Jack finishing another 1 ¼ lengths back in third under Tyler Gaffalione and paying $3 to show.

It was another 3 ¼ lengths back to Sermononthemount, who was followed in order by King's Ovation, Gagetown, and Angkor.

The Bourbon Trail ® honors the profound history and proud tradition of “America's Official Native Spirit” when the Kentucky Distillers' Association (KDA) established the Kentucky Bourbon Trail® in 1999, a road trip-style experience for bourbon lovers to visit the Bluegrass State's signature distilleries.

The Kentucky Bourbon Trail ® and Bourbon Trail ® are trademarks/service marks of the Kentucky Distillers' Association used by Churchill Downs Inc. pursuant to license. The Kentucky Distillers' Association and its member distilleries ask that you please enjoy Kentucky Bourbon responsibly.

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