Tag: Racing

Trainer Kenny McPeek's plan all along for Lucky Seven Stable's 3-year-old colt Rattle N Roll was to run in either Saturday's $300,000 Grade 3 Indiana Derby or the $250,000 Iowa Derby. He just had an unscheduled stop in between.

Rattle N Roll, the winner of Keeneland's Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity last fall, comes into the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Derby at Horseshoe Indianapolis off a two-length victory in the $200,000 American Derby at Churchill Downs. Just last Saturday.

After the American Derby, McPeek raised the possibility of running back in the Indiana Derby or the Iowa Derby, whose field had been drawn that morning. While he wanted to see how Rattle N Roll bounced out of the race, McPeek on Wednesday declared it all systems go to run in the Indiana Derby, for which Rattle N Roll is the 5-2 favorite in a field of 10. Regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount.

“He's going to Indiana,” McPeek said.

As a turf race, McPeek had no interest in the American Derby for Rattle N Roll. But, the afternoon before entries were taken, Churchill Downs announced their July 2 grass stakes would be run on dirt in order to give their new turf course's root system more time to mature.

Mike Mackin, who heads his family's Lucky Seven Stable, heard the news and wasted no time calling McPeek.

“Kenny was planning on breezing him Saturday,” Mackin said. “I said, 'Look, what if we just run him on Saturday? It's here. He likes the track. If he's ready, since they're off the turf, why not?'”

Echoed McPeek: “We didn't breeze him last weekend. We chose to run him instead of work him. We weren't intending on running in the American Derby because it was a turf race. When it came off, Mike Mackin suggested slipping him in there. We're basically using the American Derby as a workout for Indiana.

“It looks like it's another good spot for him. We want to keep him in the Midwest. I realize it's unconventional, but I've always been looked at as unconventional so I'm OK with that.”

Even as he prepared to run Rattle N Roll in the American Derby, McPeek was thinking ahead to this Saturday. He entered him in the Iowa Derby last Saturday morning before running that afternoon.

“We wanted to see how it unfolded out there and wanted to see what the Indiana and Iowa races looked like,” he said. “This is an easier ship, especially in this heat.”

McPeek noted that he won Churchill Downs' 1 1/2-mile Louisville Handicap with Vettori Kin six days after the Brazilian-bred horse finished third in an allowance race.

“Woody Stephens won the Belmont back on five days,” he said, referencing the late Hall of Fame trainer winning the 1982 Belmont Stakes with Conquistador Cielo five days after taking the Metropolitan Mile. “In other eras, it was no big deal. It seems like everyone wants to put four and six weeks in between races now. When horses are doing well, I've never been scared to run 'em. And he's doing exceptionally well. I've always been one where I rather run them than work them.”

McPeek said a big consideration was “after he raced, how quickly he ate up. He knocked it out that night. He's been killing the feed tub. I think that's the ultimate sign how well a horse is doing, how well they're eating. The faster they eat, the faster they run.”

Rattle N Roll started off his 3-year-old season with a pair of sixth-place finishes sandwiched around a fourth in three major Kentucky Derby preps. He was entered in the Kentucky Derby but did not draw in the race, which was famously won by another late-running “also-eligible” who got in at the last minute in 80-1 Rich Strike. In his three starts since, Rattle N Roll finished second in a tough allowance race and third in Churchill Downs' Grade 3 Matt Winn before taking the American Derby as the favorite.

“It was good to finally see him run well,” Mackin said. “Not that he hadn't run well in the others. It's just the races didn't set up all that well for him.

“… It was a good race on Saturday. But he's eating up and bounced back and doing well. It's a short van ride, so we're taking a shot. When Rattle N Roll won the Breeders' Futurity, he had broken his maiden just two weeks earlier. He's shown he can bounce out of a race well and run on a short time in between the races. There really aren't a whole lot of options for him until mid-August or so.”

McPeek also is wheeling back the duo of Runaway Wife and Silverleaf in just over a week each in the 1 1/16-mile Indiana Oaks. Runaway Wife comes back eight days after finishing a close second in a Churchill allowance race, and Silverleaf, who resumes racing nine days after rolling to a nine-length maiden victory.

The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

The post ‘I’ve Never Been Scared To Run ‘Em’: McPeek Confirms Rattle N Roll Will Wheel Back Off Short Rest In Indiana Derby appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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Owned by breeder J. Paul Reddam's Reddam Racing LLC and trained by Doug O'Neill, Slow Down Andy will try to accomplish something Saturday at Los Alamitos no other horse has.

The upset winner of the Grade 2 Los Alamitos Futurity during the 2021 Winter meet, the Nyquist colt out of the Square Eddie mare Edwina E will try to become the first thoroughbred to capture both the Futurity and the Los Alamitos Derby.

Scheduled for 1 1/8 miles, the $125,000-guaranteed Derby, which will be run for the ninth time Saturday, attracted four other 3-year-olds. It will be run as the last of nine races on the next-to-last day of the Los Angeles County Fair meet. Post time is 2 p.m. and scheduled post time for the Derby is 5:58 p.m.

In two races since defeating heavily-favored Messier in the Los Alamitos Futurity, Slow Down Andy finished sixth in the G2 Risen Star at the Fair Grounds, then won the G3 Sunland Derby in New Mexico as the 6-5 favorite March 27.

The chestnut has six listed drills at Santa Anita prepping for his return and is proven fresh. An earner of $544,850 in five starts, Slow Down Andy won by nearly five lengths in his career debut last Oct. 9.

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, recently returned from suspension and a winner of the Los Alamitos Derby six times since daytime thoroughbred racing returned here in 2014, will be represented by Doppelganger and High Connection.

A son of Into Mischief and the Quiet American mare Twice the Lady owned by a large partnership that includes SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC and Golconda Stable, Doppelganger has one win in six starts and earnings of $202,700.

His lone victory came in his career bow during the 2021 Winter meet last Dec. 11. Most recently, he was third at 7-5 in the G3 Affirmed June 11.

Runner-up in the Affirmed, High Connection is 1-for-3 for HRH Prince Sultan Bin Mishal al Saud. The Connect colt out of the Forest Camp mare Forest Legend has banked $74,000.

O'Neill will also send out Win the Day, a Midshipman gelding owned by Boat Racing LLC, Fritz Brothers Racing and William Strauss. Out of the Jazil mare Sunrise Bay, Win the Day has one win in five starts and earnings of $86,268. In his last outing, the $82,000 2-year-old purchase split the field in the Texas Derby May 30 at Lone Star Park.

Trainer John Sadler, who won the 2016 Derby with Accelerate, will be represented by Got Thunder, who trailed in the Texas Derby after he broke his maiden six weeks prior at Santa Anita.

Owned by Talia Racing LLC and West Point Thoroughbreds, the Arrogate colt out of the Silver Deputy mare Ask the Question is 1-for-6 with a bankroll of $80,760.

From inside out, the field for the Los Alamitos Derby: Win the Day, Diego Herrera rides, 122 pounds; Got Thunder, Ramon Vazquez, 122; Slow Down Andy, Mario Gutierrez, 122; Doppelganger, Abel Cedillo, 122 and High Connection, Juan Hernandez, 122.

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A pair of top contenders for internationally-acclaimed trainer Aidan O'Brien arrived at Belmont Park on Wednesday in Stone Age and Concert Hall for the 10-furlong first legs of the lucrative Caesars Turf Triple series.

Stone Age, bred and co-owned by Peter Brant with Coolmore partners Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith and Westerberg, will line up in the 13-horse Grade 1, $1 million Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational for sophomores; while Westerberg, Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, and Derrick Smith's Concert Hall takes on nine other rivals in the Grade 1, $700,000 Belmont Oaks Invitational for 3-year-old fillies.

Stone Age was a prominent winner of the Group 3 Derby Trial in May at Leopardstown over 10 furlongs before finishing sixth last out in the 12-furlong Group 1 Epsom Derby on June 4.

O'Brien said he was impressed by the performance of Stone Age in the Derby Trial.

“He showed plenty of pace that day. He traveled very strongly and galloped through the line very well. There's a chance that going back to 10 furlongs might suit him better,” O'Brien said. “We thought he would have no problem with the mile and a half [last out], but there might be a chance that it was too far for him. He seems to have come out of the Derby well.”

The Galileo colt ran a strong second as a maiden in the Group 1 Criterium International in October at Saint-Cloud before graduating in March over 10 furlongs at Navan in his seasonal debut.

O'Brien said Stone Age is a well-built colt and should have the tactical ability to make a trip when leaving the outside post under returning rider Ryan Moore.

“He's a good moving horse and a good, strong traveler,” O'Brien said. “He's very happy to be forward and to take the lead. He's drawn wide, but he's very uncomplicated, we think.”

O'Brien and Moore teamed up last year to sweep both the Belmont Derby and Belmont Oaks with Bolshoi Ballet and Santa Barbara, respectively. He also captured the 2016 renewal of the Belmont Derby with Deauville in rein to Jamie Spencer.

O'Brien said the Belmont Derby provided a unique opportunity for Stone Age to race against fellow sophomores rather than take on older company in the Group 1 Coral-Eclipse won last weekend at Sandown by Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club-winner Vadeni over multiple Group 1-winning older horse Mishriff.

“We had the choice of going here [to New York] or going to the Eclipse and we decided to come to your race, which is a race we thought would suit him well,” O'Brien said. “Your race suits perfectly to give him another chance against his own age and then we can step up again against older horses after if we want.”

O'Brien will seek his third Belmont Oaks victory when sending out Group 1-placed Concert Hall, who enters off two fourth-place finishes at Group 1 level in the 12-furlong Epsom Oaks on June 3 and most recently when elevated from fifth in the 10-furlong Pretty Polly on June 26 at The Curragh.

O'Brien said Concert Hall ran deceptively well last out in a roughly run race won by La Petite Coco.

“She didn't have much luck inside the last couple of furlongs,” O'Brien said. “She got a bad enough bump and squeeze and had to stop and go back to last and come around them again. She was staying on well at the line.”

As a 2-year-old, Concert Hall won The Curragh's Group 3 Weld Park going seven furlongs and in April captured the listed Salsabil over 10 furlongs at Navan. She picked up Group 1 blacktype with a third-place finish in the one-mile Irish 1000 Guineas in May at The Curragh.

“She's straightforward,” O'Brien said. “She ran a great race in the Oaks at a mile and a half. She won her Oaks trial over a mile and a quarter. She's a Group 3-winner over seven furlongs. So, she's versatile and I think somewhere around a mile and a quarter might be her best trip.”

O'Brien said Concert Hall, a bay daughter of European classic winners Dubawi and Was, should appreciate the American style of racing with firm ground expected when she exits the outermost post 10 under Moore.

“She's a good mover. She's a compact filly and has a genuine way of galloping with her head out and down,” O'Brien said.

The Caesars Belmont Derby Invitational will again launch the male division of the Turf Triple series that encompasses the Grade 1, $1 million Caesars Saratoga Derby Invitational at 1 3/16-miles on August 6 and the Grade 3, $1 million Caesars Jockey Club Derby Invitational at 12 furlongs during the Belmont fall meet.

The Belmont Oaks Invitational commences the female division of the Turf Triple series, which will be followed by the Grade 3, $700,000 Saratoga Oaks at 1 3/16-miles on August 7 and conclude with the Grade 3, $700,000 Jockey Club Oaks at 11 furlongs during the fall.

The post Aidan O’Brien: Belmont Derby ‘Suits Perfectly’ For Derby Trial Winner Stone Age appeared first on Horse Racing News | Paulick Report.

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As the two-time reigning Eclipse Award champion trainer, Brad Cox wins a lot of races in a lot of places. That includes Indiana Derby Day at Horseshoe Indianapolis, where the Louisville product keeps a sizable division much of the year.

Cox has won at least one of the six open stakes that headline Indiana's most important race card each of the past five years. That includes two stakes apiece in 2019-2021 and three in 2018 after starting his streak with a sole victory in 2017.

The 43-year-old trainer hopes to keep his Indiana Derby Day mojo going Saturday with 2-for-2 Best Actor in the $300,000, Grade 3 Indiana Derby and the duo of favored Interstatedaydream and Patna in the $200,000, Grade 3 Indiana Oaks. Cox swept both graded stakes in 2020 with Shared Sense taking the Indiana Derby and Shedaresthedevil the Indiana Oaks. In that surreal racing season that emerged amid COVID, Shedaresthedevil captured the delayed Kentucky Oaks in her next start, defeating champions Swiss Skydiver and Gamine in the process.

“It would be nice to sweep them again,” Cox said recently at Churchill Downs, adding with a laugh, “that's the goal. But we feel we've got a good shot in both races. It's been a big day where we normally can be effective. We're not maybe as spread about as we normally are, trying to have a runner in every stakes. But we're going to be active in the graded stakes.”

Seven of those 10 winners during Cox's Indiana Derby Day surge have been ridden by Florent Geroux, including the sweep with Shared Sense and Shedaresthedevil.

“It's very simple,” Geroux, who will ride Gary and Mary West's Best Actor and Flurry Racing's Interstatedaydream for Cox, said of their success on Indiana Derby Day. “Those horses are extremely well-spotted. Most of the time they are the heavy favorite or one of the top choices. It makes my job a lot easier.”

Best Actor captured his debut at Oaklawn Park at 1 1/16 miles, then took an off-the-turf, one-turn mile allowance race at Churchill. He's the 4-1 third choice in the field of 10 behind 5-2 favorite Rattle N Roll (who won last Saturday's off-the-turf American Derby at Churchill) and 7-2 Actuator, a “buzz” horse since romping in a very fast-run maiden race.

“It is back a little quick, back in four weeks off a big run,” Cox said of Best Actor's four-length victory on June 12. “ But he did bounce out of it in good order and had two works since. He looked great this morning.

“He took a little while to come around, but he really showed us a lot in his first run at Oaklawn going long first time, showed the ability to stay on. Brought him here to Churchill. It took us a little while to find the right race for him, the off the turf race he performed really well going a one-turn mile. He was up close to a very hot pace, finished up well. I truly believe he's a two-turn horse, based on pedigree, physically and how he trains. So back around two turns I think will only be a benefit. We're hoping the best is yet to come. I feel like it is. This will be a great opportunity for him to step in deeper water and hopefully perform well.”

Geroux wasn't aboard for Best Actor's races, but he has worked him in the morning.

“He always seemed to be a nice horse,” he said. “Rattle N Roll will be the favorite, he ran last week – beat me in the American Derby (with Geroux second on Kuchar). He won a nice race, and they say he's come back well. But he's coming back in one week, so that's a question mark.

“I also like the horse of Michael McCarthy's (Actuator). He won very easily last time, very impressive. It's only his second race this year. Same as my horse, there's a lack of experience.”

Interstatedaydream is the 9-5 favorite in the Indiana Oaks' field of eight 3-year-old fillies. The daughter of Classic Empire has won three of five starts, most recently Pimlico's Grade 2 Black Eyed Susan, with her defeats a second in Saratoga's Grade 2 Adirondack last year behind the multiple stakes-winner Wicked Halo and a third in Keeneland's Grade 1 Ashland Stakes won by Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes runner-up Nest.

“She's a nice filly obviously,” Cox said. “She showed a lot off the layoff this winter, ran a good race in the Ashland. I thought we did the right thing in not pressing forward to the Kentucky Oaks and letting her come around. It was six weeks to the Black-Eyed Susan, which I think came up a really, really good race. She was up close, did a lot of the running, stayed on well, came out of it in good order.

“We thought this would be a race where we wouldn't have to ship her a long way, and hopefully add another graded stakes to her resume. She's a good filly, and hopefully this is the next step toward bigger and better things down the road.”

Juddmonte Farms' Patna makes her first start around two turns in the Indiana Oaks. With Geroux riding Interstatedaydream, Horseshoe Indianapolis meet-leader Marcelino Pedroza picks up the mount.

“I kind of thought she might be a two-turn horse,” Cox said. “This is a great opportunity to give her a chance. I'm very happy with the way she's been training. She's a Juddmonte filly; they all have pedigrees. So obviously a placing would be huge for her and her family.”

The 20th season of live Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing extends through Wednesday, Nov. 23. Live racing is conducted at 2:30 p.m. Monday through Wednesday with Thursday post times set for 2:10 p.m. A total of 12 Saturdays will feature live racing in 2022 highlighted by the 28th running of the Grade 3 $300,000 Indiana Derby and the 27th running of the Grade 3 $200,000 Indiana Oaks set for Saturday, July 9. For more information on live racing at Horseshoe Indianapolis, visit www.caesars.com/horseshoe-indianapolis.

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