Track Phantom (Quality Road) will look to continue his domination among the local 3-year-olds as he looks to remain unbeaten around two turns in trying to add to his victories in the Dec. 23 Gun Runner S. and a front-running success in the GIII Lecomte S. Jan. 20. The $500,000 Keeneland September grad is one of two in the race for three-time Risen Star winner Steve Asmussen.

“It was great to see him win the race against a talented field, but especially with going as fast as they did early and showing enough quality to still respond,” the Hall of Famer commented. “I think the Lecomte was as easy on him as you could have wanted it to be, with him still getting something out of it.”

Joel Rosario will likely get after Track Phantom again from gate 11, but it was Asmussen's other winner on the Lecomte undercard who achieved the faster figure. Hall of Fame (Gun Runner) was trying a route of ground for the first time that afternoon and looked sensational doing it. His final time was 0.46 quicker than the Lecomte while his 94 Beyer was four points superior to Track Phantom en route to earning 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

“He was ridden much more aggressively (in his maiden win) because he's playing a little catch up on a horse like Track Phantom, but the ability is there,” Asmussen said of the $1.4-million Fasig-Tipton Saratoga graduate.

Sierra Leone (Gun Runner) topped the Saratoga Sale on a bid of $2.3 million and came running late to graduate by 1 1/4 lengths at first asking at Aqueduct Nov. 4, also earning the 'Rising Star' designation. When last seen, the dark bay rallied from last to lead into the final furlong of the GII Remsen S. Dec. 2, only to be outbattled to the wire by Dornoch (Good Magic).

“He was the only horse that day that made up any ground and that's an important thing to note,” trainer Chad Brown told Bill Finley earlier this week. “He had every chance to win. I was pleased with the effort, though disappointed by the outcome.”

Brad Cox has won the Risen Star three times in the last four years, including Angel of Empire (Classic Empire) last winter. Albaugh Family Stables' Catching Freedom (Constitution) flies the flag for the barn after posting a 2 1/2-length victory in the Smarty Jones S. at Oaklawn Park Jan. 1.

“We're going to need to improve off the Smarty Jones,” Cox said. “Physically he looks great. He's had a good bit of time between races, he shipped back here and is moving well, so we'll see if he's up for it.”

Rachel Alexandra A Key Oaks Prep

The sophomore fillies' counterpart to the Risen Star is named in honor of the romping winner of the 2009 GI Kentucky Oaks and has been an exceptionally productive steppingstone to the first Friday in May. Dating back to 2014, no fewer than four winners of the Rachel Alexandra have gone on to success at Churchill Downs, including 'TDN Rising Star' Pretty Mischievous (Into Mischief) last year.

Brad Cox saddled Monomoy Girl (Tapizar) to take the 2018 Rachel Alexandra and Kentucky Oaks, and the stable relies upon Alpine Princess (Classic Empire) in this spot. Beaten a long way from home when seventh in the GI Darley Alcibiades S. last October, the bay has since won two straight, both around two turns, including a two-length score over West Omaha (Omaha Beach) in the local Untapable S. Dec. 30. The latter flattered the form with a five-length romp over Perfect Shot (Gun Runner) in the Jan. 20 Silverbulletday S.

“She's always been a pretty good workhorse,” Cox said. “That's how she came to us back in the spring. She likes the track here. It's a step up. We'll give her another opportunity at the graded stakes level and hopefully she can get it done.”

'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole) lived up to that honor with a dominating victory in the GIII Pocahontas S. last September and a runner-up effort in the Alcibiades, but connections elected to pass the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies. She was never truly a factor when beaten 9 1/2 lengths into third as the heavy favorite in the Oct. 29 Rags To Riches S., but her trainer has not lost faith in her.

“We're really excited,” Ken McPeek said. “She's been working super. She's as strong as ever right now. [Assistant trainer] Greg Geier has got her here in good order. She's really a high-level filly, and I'd love to think this is just one stepping stone to getting her to the [Kentucky] Oaks.”

With Florent Geroux committed to Alpine Princess, fellow Frenchman Flavien Prat takes over for Cox on the rail-drawn 'Rising Star' Tarifa (Bernardini). A disappointing second in Churchill allowance company behind next-out SW Denim and Pearls (Into Mischief), the Godophin homebred set the record straight with a solid victory in her two-turn debut on the Lecomte undercard.

Stronghold Rates The Marquee In Sunland Derby

A little more than two weeks after opting out of what turned out to be a one-horse race in the GIII Robert B. Lewis S. at Santa Anita, Stronghold (Ghostzapper) ships into New Mexico to tackle Sunday's $800,000 GIII Sunland Derby for trainer Phil D'Amato. A second-out maiden winner over Churchill's one-turn mile, the homebred got a good look at the hind end of 'TDN Rising Star' Nysos (Nyquist) when a distant second in the GIII Bob Hope S. at Del Mar last November and was forced to settle for second in the GII Los Alamitos Futurity in his juvenile finale Dec. 16. Antonio Fresu flies in from California for the ride.

Informed Patriot (Hard Spun) has only a maiden win to his credit from five starts, but has acquitted himself well in stakes company, finishing third in the GIII Street Sense S. Oct. 29 before filling the same spot in the Smarty Jones.

Lucky Jeremy (Lookin At Lucky) won his maiden in a restricted event going a mile on the Street Sense undercard and came away late to best Alotluck (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) by two lengths in the local Riley Allison Derby Jan. 19. It was a large expanse back to Surroundedbyangels (Smiling Tiger) that afternoon.

The Sunland Derby is also a Derby points race, with 20 points going to the winner.

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Racing for Gold Square LLC and Tami Bobo will be the grey son of Curlin, Hop Sing, for conditioner Jose D'Angelo. Out of a half-sister to GISW Cupid (Tapit); MGSW Heart Ashley (Lion Heart)–herself dam of MGSW-Jpn Fiano Romano (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and that one's full-sibling Ameristralia (Aus), who produced GII Chandelier winner Ain't Easy (Into Mischief); and GSW Ashley's Kitten (Tale of the Cat), Hop Sing can also claim MGSW Kathleen O. and 'TDN Rising Star' GSW & GISP V V's Dream (Mitole) as relatives. TJCIS PPs

2nd-FG, $52k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 2:15p.m. ET
Breaking next to another 'Insight' runner, Jam's Paper Moon (Oscar Performance) will head to post from the Brendan Walsh barn for owner Jamm Ltd. A half-sister to GISW Duopoly (Animal Kingdom), who joined Japan's venerable breeding program when changing hands to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.6m at FTKNOV in 2021, the filly lays claims to a very busy international family including a twice-placed Kitten's Joy half-brother in England.

To her outside is Ms Sedona (Justify), a $300,000 KEESEP procurement for James F Schurman. Trained by Tom Morley, her only other half-sibling to the races is a winning half-sister, but her sire has been red hot on all surfaces this season, so a mile on the turf figures to be right in her wheelhouse. Ms Sedona hails from a female line with a fleet of accomplished runners including the likes of multiple highweight MGSW & G1SP Usherette (Ire); MGSW & MGISP Expansion; and MG1SW Vespone (Ire). TJCIS PPs

9th-DMR, $61k, Msw, 2yo, f, 1mT, 7:25p.m. ET
A half-sister to GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf victress Aunt Pearl (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), Muri (Ire) (Le Havre {Ire}) was a 290,000gns TATOCT purchase by Mike Ryan for Cheyenne Stable in 2022. Her dam, Scandinavian champion Matauri Pearl (Ire), is herself a half-sister to GSW & MGISP-US, GSW & G1SP-Fr Wekeela (Fr) (Hurricane Run {Ire}). G1 Qatar Prix du Cadran victress Molly Malone (Fr) (Lomitas {GB}) and multiple highweight MGSW Morgan Le Faye (GB) (Shamardal) mark the most recent talented runners in a busy European female line.  TJCIS PPs

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Coming into the race with a neck victory over a fast main track at this venue Sept. 16 after being forced to close from the back of the field, she took a diametrically opposed trip here, immediately establishing a clear lead right from the jump. Well in hand on a loose lead through both turns, she readily responded in the lane to register a 6 3/4-length victory over Gin Gin (Hightail), who got the best of heavy 1-9 favorite 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole) for second.

#4 WEST SUNSET ($17.12) went to the front shortly after the break and poured it on down the lane to win the Rags to Riches Stakes at Churchill in style!

The 2yo filly by @LanesEndFarms's West Coast was ridden by Flavien Prat for @bradcoxracing and Gary & Mary West. pic.twitter.com/5eB2HqPjcx

— TVG (@TVG) October 29, 2023

A half to Bourbon Resolution, West Sunset has a 2023 half-sister by Maximum Security in the wings and is only one of four foals to the races for the mare. Vindicated Ghost is herself a half-sister to an accomplished fleet of runners including GSW Chelokee (Cherokee Run); MGSW & MGISP Salute the Sarge (Forest Wildcat); SW & GSP Mymich (A. P. Indy). This is the extended family of 14-time winner GISW Dismasted. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

RAGS TO RICHES S., $200,000, Churchill Downs, 10-29, 2yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:46.31, sy.
1–WEST SUNSET, 122, f, 2, by West Coast
         1st Dam: Vindicated Ghost, by Vindication
         2nd Dam: Dixie Ghost, by Silver Ghost
         3rd Dam: Mississippi Dixie, by Dixieland Band
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN. O/B-Gary & Mary West Stables Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Flavien Prat. $124,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $193,000. *1/2 to Bourbon Resolution (New Year's Day), GSW, $325,421.
2–Gin Gin, 122, f, 2, Hightail–Before You Know It, by Hard Spun. 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Calumet Farm; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $40,000.
3–V V's Dream, 122, f, 2, Mitole–Quay, by Tapit. ($130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'.
O-MJM Racing and Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek); B-Mark Stansell (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $20,000.
Margins: 6 3/4, 2 3/4, 6. Odds: 7.86, 9.07, 0.19.
Also Ran: Candy Landy, Floored. Scratched: Shimmering Allure, Twirling Good Time.

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Last seen finishing second behind long-gone GIII Pocahontas victress 'TDN Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole), who finished second to Candied (Candy Ride {Arg}) in the GI Darley Alcibiades earlier in the month, Youalmosthadme already tallied an open length maiden score over this track in the spring and won the Kentucky Juvenile S. in May at Churchill after moving from John Hancock to Brad Cox. She also hit the board in Ellis Park's Debutante S. in August.

Breaking well and stalking from second as the pacesetter put up brisk early fractions of :22.77 and :45.63, she took a short lead passing the half before opening up on the field heading for the line. Under moderate urging, she sailed home seven lengths best over familiar foe Hot Beach (Omaha Beach) and Fibber (Frosted) ran on strongly to round out the trifecta.

Conditioner Brad Cox had high praise in the winner's enclosure for his filly's ability to go from routes to sprinting: “Obviously [it takes] a very sound [horse] and an intelligent one, and she's both. I'm very proud of her performance today. [Jockey] Tyler [Gaffalione] did a good job. He put her into position and she fired.”

#7 YOUALMOSTHADME ($5.86) was prominent early and easily pulled away down the lane to win Keeneland's $200,000 Myrtlewood Stakes under a hand ride.

The filly by @CalumetFarm's Oxbow was ridden by @Tyler_Gaff for trainer @bradcoxracing. pic.twitter.com/znRgyQRWL8

— TVG (@TVG) October 27, 2023

“She's been acting in the mornings that–without a doubt–she'd improved over the last month or so. I like what I've seen from her since the GIII Pocahontas (at Churchill Downs Sept. 16, when she finished second going a mile), and I think the cutback helped out a good bit today as well.”

While not willing to commit to limiting Youalmosthadme to one turn races, Cox did confirm that she would stay there for the near future.

Out of Good Gator, Youalmosthadme is the most successful of her siblings thus far, and the third winner from four to the races. She also has a yearling Get Stormy half-sister. The victress hails from the female line of GSP May Gator, who also claims MGSW Miz Ida (Proud Citizen) and SW Gator Zone (Sharp Humor) to her tally. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

MYRTLEWOOD S., $198,750, Keeneland, 10-27, 2yo, f, 6f, 1:10.67, ft.
1–YOUALMOSTHADME, 120, f, 2, by Oxbow
         1st Dam: Good Gator (SP), by Good and Tough
         2nd Dam: May Gator, by Green Alligator
         3rd Dam: Thesixthofmay, by Classic Account
($12,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing LLC, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson, and Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-Pope, Marc, and Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $117,800. Lifetime Record: GSP, 5-3-1-1, $361,950.
2–Hot Beach, 120, f, 2, Omaha Beach–Hot Water, by Medaglia d'Oro. ($160,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $400,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; B-Cobalt Investments, LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $38,000.
3–Fibber, 118, f, 2, Frosted–Devious Intent, by Dixie Union. ($55,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). 1ST BLACK TYPE. O-Kat Kirk and Wayne R. Sanders; B-Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings LLC (KY); T-W. Bret Calhoun. $19,000.
Margins: 7, 1HF, NK. Odds: 1.93, 3.75, 7.29.
Also Ran: Copper Em, Field Lass, Xtreme Smoke Show, Wellareyouhappynow, Xtreme Diva, Let Them Watch.

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The skyrocketing 'TDN Rising Star' Tamara (Bolt d'Oro), unveiled barely a month ago, has emerged from the West Coast as the obvious topper of her division. But the brilliant, 2-for-2  daughter of four-time champion Beholder is likely to have a fight on her hands as the upcoming stakes engagements extend around two turns, thanks to a talented trio of fillies who have ascended in the East.

The latest addition to that group of contenders is fellow 'Rising Star' V V's Dream (Mitole), who on Saturday ran up the score by 8 3/4 as-she-pleased lengths in the GIII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Downs.

The stylish victory by the athletic, unruffled 6-5 favorite represented the first graded stakes win for her freshman sire, Mitole. The 1:36.45 clocking for the one-turn mile was .83 seconds faster than 2-year-old males ran one hour later in the GIII Iroquois S., earning V V's Dream an 87 Beyer Speed Figure that ranks nine points higher than the number assigned to the winning colt.

V V's Dream has already tangled with-and run second to-the 4-for-4 Brightwork (Outwork), who has won the Ellis Park Debutante S., the GIII Adirondack S., and the GI Spinaway S. in succession this summer.

Yet it is the trip-troubled filly who ran second in the Spinaway, 'TDN Rising Star' Ways and Means (Practical Joke), who is widely regarded as the one to beat coming out of the Saratoga season. This lofty assessment for a non-stakes-winner is based on her blowout, 90-Beyer MSW debut score by 12 3/4 lengths, and then having her momentum stalled twice in the Spinaway when checking hard and clipping heels behind Brightwork, who only beat her by half a length.

V V's Dream ($130,000 KEENOV; $190,000 KEESEP) also summered at the Spa, but didn't race there. After winning her May 19 debut at Churchill by 6 1/4 lengths and running second to Brightwork by half a length in the July 2 Ellis Debutante, the Ken McPeek-trained gray posted five published workouts at Saratoga, even though the Sept. 16 Pocahontas S. was circled on the calendar as her next goal.

“Kenny wanted to take longer, didn't want her to do another sprint,” owner Mike Mackin (MJM Racing) said in a post-win interview published on the Kentucky Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association's YouTube feed.

Churchill Downs this year tweaked some aspects of its September stakes schedule, including shortening both the Pocahontas and the Iroquois from 1 1/16 miles to one mile. The Pocahontas had been carded at a mile from 1982 through 2012 and in 2020. Mackin said the move didn't initially register on his or his trainer's radar as they prepped V V's Dream for that spot.

“At the time when we first started [planning her campaign], we were thinking that the Pocahontas was a mile and a sixteenth, and just wanted her to do two turns from here on out,” Mackin said.

“But, close enough, I guess, a flat mile,” Mackin added with the afterglow relief of an owner not wanting to nitpick a romp that stamped his filly as a major divisional force.

In the Pocahontas, V V's Dream rated adeptly under Brian Hernandez, Jr., then assertively split foes leaving the chute to command a sweet stalking spot while outside and jointly third for most of the backstretch run. The second and third favorites in the betting were establishing a lively and seemingly unsustainable tempo (:22.83 and :45.55), allowing Hernandez to hone his striking sights while edging incrementally closer through the far turn.

Pouncing at will at the quarter pole after a six-furlong split in 1:10.24, V V's Dream inhaled the wilted pacemakers with little resistance. But it took her several strides before she found her best footing and torqued into a higher gear three-sixteenths out, widening her margin with no serious challengers in her wake. She won geared down and galloped out almost a pole ahead of the runners-up.

“She went on by them pretty easily turning for home, and from there she just kind of coasted on in,” Hernandez said, adding that he “just kind of stayed out of her way and let her get under the wire on her own terms.”

Mackin said the Oct. 6 GI Alcibiades S. at Keeneland is next. He attempted to compare V V's Dream to other recent graded stakes winners his family has campaigned with McPeek (as Lucky Seven Stable), but couldn't quite come up with the right analogy.

“Well, hopefully she's got more sense than Smile Happy,” Mackin said, speaking of the notoriously difficult-to-train Runhappy colt. “But she's got more tactical speed than Rattle N Roll,” he added, referring to the one-run closer by Connect. “He's going to be back of the pack.”

Hernandez, who has worked closely with McPeek's outfit for years, had no trouble pinpointing a comparison from different owners in that same stable.

“She kind of reminds us a lot of that filly we had a few years ago, Restless Rider,” the jockey said, referring to the McPeek-trained daughter of Distorted Humor who ran second in the 2018 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies.

If V V's Dream follows Restless Rider's pattern and also wins the Alcibiades, she, too, will enter the Breeders' Cup  with a 3-for-4 record and a Grade I win at 1 1/16 miles as her final prep.

“She's just kind of big, and always forward,” Hernandez said of V V's Dream. “And from day one, when they first got her in here, she's always kind of done everything the right way. So she's just one of those types of fillies where it's exciting to see her just keep progressing.”

McPeek has now won the Pocahontas four times (2023, 2022, 2016, 2015), establishing a record for that stakes. As Mackin talked of plans for V V's Dream, it might have registered as a surprise to listeners when he touched on the fact that McPeek has never won a Breeders' Cup race. But he's been tantalizingly close-second seven times and third on 10 occasions.

McPeek himself wasn't at the post-race festivities to talk about whether V V's Dream could be the one to snap that oh-so-close Breeders' Cup streak. He was 80 miles east in Lexington, scoping out the Keeneland sale.

“As much as he would have liked to have been here today, his future is dependent upon buying the right yearlings,” Mackin said.

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Debuted sprinting as the favorite over the dirt May 19, the gray filly earned 'TDN Rising Star' status with a 6 1/2-length win from off the pace. Shipped to Ellis Park for a run in the Debutante S., she was a beaten favorite July 2 by just a half-length to undefeated GISW Brightwork (Outwork). Back to where it all began under the Twin Spires, the 6-5 favorite found herself sitting pretty in third just a furlong into the race as pacesetters Hot Beach (Omaha Beach) and Youalmosthadme (Oxbow) settled into a duel through a :22.83 opening quarter. Caught between rivals early, V V's Dream tugged her way into a clear third even as the front pair had separated themselves from the field into the far turn. Moving under her own power around the bend, the 'Rising Star' came with an outside bid to swoop three-wide past both early leaders. From there, it was only a matter of who would finish second as the daughter of freshman stallion Mitole (by Eskendereya) opened up on the dueling pair and won as easily as she liked going away.

“She sat in a perfect spot just behind the two pacesetters,” said winning jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. “She got a little bit of a breather around the turn and really went by them own her own. She's won impressively in two starts here. I think stretching out around two turns shouldn't be a problem in the future.”

“She's still young but has shown a lot of talent already,” added assistant trainer Greg Geier. “She spent the summer in New York training for this race. It's been the plan to run here in the Pocahontas and then to the Breeders' Cup. I don't see why she wouldn't improve stretching out in distance after this.”

Saturday, Churchill Downs
POCAHONTAS S.-GIII, $300,000, Churchill Downs, 9-16, 2yo, f, 1m, 1:36.45, ft.
1–V V'S DREAM, 122, f, 2, by Mitole
                1st Dam: Quay, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Skipper Tale, by Tale of the Cat
                3rd Dam: Pretty 'n Smart, by Beau Genius
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-MJM Racing; B-Mark Stansell (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $183,105. Lifetime Record: 3-2-1-0, $297,605, first SW for freshman sire (by Eskendereya). Werk Nick Rating: B. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Youalmosthadme, 122, f, 2, Oxbow–Good Gator, by Good and Tough. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($12,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Qatar Racing LLC, Swinbank Stables, Steve Adkisson and Black Type Thoroughbreds; B-Pope McLean, Marc McLean & Pope McLean Jr. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox. $59,550.
3–Hot Beach, 122, f, 2, Omaha Beach–Hot Water, by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $400,000 Ylg '22 FTSAUG). O-Boardshorts Stables, LLC; B-Cobalt Investments, LLC (KY); T-Brian A. Lynch. $29,775.
Margins: 8 3/4, 3/4, 5HF. Odds: 1.20, 2.48, 3.53.
Also Ran: Courbe, Riperton, Regal Rumor. Scratched: Empire Island, Peignoir, Raining Sugar.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

#6 V V'S DREAM ($4.40) gets a “dream trip” under @b_hernandezjr after quick fractions in the early part of the G3 Pocahontas Stakes at @ChurchillDowns. Congratulations to @McPeekRacing and MJM Racing. Another graded stakes winner for Mitole. pic.twitter.com/k5RNF9gtu4

— TVG (@TVG) September 16, 2023

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Meanwhile, at Churchill Downs, the prep seasons officially open for 2-year-old colts and fillies, who are seeking to bank points for next May's 150th editions of the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks.

There is much to get to with Belmont at the Big A, Pimlico and Hastings, all carding graded races as well.

Appleby Looks to Repeat in Woodbine Mile

Last year, trainer Charlie Appleby sent MGISW Modern Games (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to Toronto for the Woodbine Mile and the now-retired globetrotter with William Buick aboard brought home the prize en route to another win in the Breeders' Cup.

With a trip to the FanDuel GI Breeders' Cup Mile on the line, this time around the Godolphin conditioner ships in multiple-group winner Master of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who was well-beaten last March on the World Cup undercard in the G1 Dubai Turf, but won the G2 Fred Cowley MBE Memorial Summer Mile S. by four lengths at Ascot July 15.

“He has natural pace and travels well,” said Charlie Appleby. “The E.P. Taylor is a nice conventional track which suits him. It is a fair track with a nice straight that gives you a chance.”

The 5-year-old morning-line favorite will face five others, including MGSW War Bomber (Ire) (War Front), whose stalking trip led to a key victory in the Aug. 19 running of the GII King Edward S. That race saw 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Maker's Mark Mile hero Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) run fourth, which was the 6-year-old's first attempt since finishing fourth in the G1 Dubai Turf.

Also scheduled, trainer Mark Casse has almost half of the field looking for a trip to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf in the GI bet365 Summer S. Out of his entries, My Boy Prince (Cairo Prince) was certainly eye-catching when he won against restricted company by 14 lengths in the Simcoe S. over the Tapeta at Woodbine Aug. 27. The gray upstart will do battle with Catch a Glimpse S. victor Airosa (Uncle Mo), who is looking to take on the boys.

The fillies will get their chance for a trip to Santa Anita and the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf on Saturday in the GI Johnnie Walker Natalma S. Airosa could run in this spot, but it is an incredibly open race with Appleby's import Dazzling Star (GB) (Blue Point {Ire}) present and the Christophe Clement-trained Ozara (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}), who broke her maiden by a neck Aug. 6 at Saratoga.

“We liked this horse from day one,” said Miguel Clement, son and assistant to the trainer. “She'd been working well on the grass, and we were actually quite confident in her. She's a gutsy little filly, with tactical speed and a turn of foot that makes her very dangerous.”

Switching to the Tapeta, Woodbine rounds out their graded races with the GIII Vigil S. Seven sprinters will try to derail the early speed of Patches O'Houlihan (Reload), who stepped up to win the GIII Bold Venture S. in Toronto Aug. 20.

The Roads Begins Where It Ends at Churchill

Less than nine months from now, the 150th GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks will be crowned. The roads start at Churchill Downs on Saturday as points of 10-5-3-2-1 will be distributed to the top five finishers.

For the colts, the GIII Iroquois S. includes Winchell Thoroughbred's Risk It (Gun Runner), who sprinted home a winner at first asking Aug. 19 at Saratoga for trainer Steve Asmussen. The morning-line favorite will try to outrun WinStar and Siena Farm's Gettysburg Address (Constitution), who won in his first career race for trainer Brad Cox at Ellis Park Aug. 6.

As for the fillies, their race is no-less competitive as nine will be sent on their way in the GIII Pocahontas S. V V's Dream (Mitole) makes her return to the races after garnering 'TDN Rising Star' honors when she debuted for Kenny McPeek back in mid-May at Churchill Downs. The gray filly was second in her last effort to the undefeated GISW Brightwork (Outwork) at Ellis July 2 in the Debutante S. Facing her will be a number of contenders on the make, including SW Hot Beach (Omaha Beach), Empire Island (Classic Empire) and Peignoir (Mendelssohn).

Rounding out the first Saturday of racing at Churchill's September meet is the GIII Locust Grove S. Out of these older females, the two-turn test welcomes back GISW and MGSW Pauline's Pearl (Tapit). The Stonestreet homebred will once again do battle with the likes of MGSW Search Results (Flatter) and GISW A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

Grade III Tests at BAQ, Pimlico and Hastings

Swinging up to Aqueduct for the BAQ meet that just opened, we find the final leg of the Turf Triple Series for the fillies in the GIII Jockey Club Oaks Invitational.

Charlie Appleby will look to make his presence felt here too when he sends out Eternal Hope (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}). Last seen running third Aug. 20 at Deauville in the G2 Prix Alec Head S, she will match wits with Graham Motion trainee Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who was second by a nose at Laurel Park Aug. 13 in the Searching S.

Speaking of racing in Maryland, Pimlico's short September meet continues and featured on Saturday is the GIII Baltimore/Washington International Turf Cup S., which includes MSP Smokin' T (War Front), GSP Wolfie's Dynaghost (Ghostzapper) and SW King Vega (GB) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

Wrapping up the graded day of racing, Hastings Racecourse will put on the GIII British Columbia Derby. Morning-line favorite SW Sunbird (Orb) will look to rebound after the bay gelding ran fifth in the GIII Canadian Derby.

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Smile Happy and Rattle N Roll share more than a few similarities, but the main parallel is that the 4-year-olds are both on skyrocketing career trajectories with the potential for big summer campaigns ahead.

A 'TDN Rising Star' and the winner of the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at two, Smile Happy was a contender leading up to the Kentucky Derby last year, but he settled for eighth on the first Saturday in May. After a long layoff, the son of Runhappy returned a winner at Oaklawn in March and finished third in the GII Oaklawn Mile S. before his breakout performance in the GII Alysheba S., where he earned a 110 Beyer Speed Figure.

“This is a fantastic, talented horse,” said Kenny McPeek. “As a 2-year-old he didn't win a Grade I, but the Kentucky Jockey Club showed he had such raw talent. He needed an extended vacation after the Derby last year. He had a slight case of distal bone bruising, which is difficult to get a horse to rebound from quickly. We gave him a lot of time and he's come back a better horse. The race in the Alysheba showed how freaky talented he is.”

Allowing Smile Happy the time off to improve physically has been one key to his success this year, but another factor has been figuring the colt out mentally. McPeek explained that this trainee can be quirky, noting that the colt doesn't respond well to disruptions in his routine and requires some extra attention on race day.

“During the post parade, he wants to back up and then not come back to the gate,” McPeek shared. “So we learned a little trick to get him back to the gate. The race at Oaklawn [Oaklawn Mile] was a little bit short for him, but then we spaced off that and came into the Alysheba and now we've got the gate trick worked out. He tests you, this horse, but my goodness he's so talented. Figuring him out in the mornings has been tricky because at Oaklawn he didn't want to train, at Fair Grounds he trained well, and then we've figured out his number at Churchill. I don't see this horse training anywhere but Churchill probably for the rest of his career. When it's open, he'll be there.”

Rattle N Roll gets a pre-race mint and pep talk from his groom, Peter Soria | Sara Gordon

Fellow Lucky Seven Stables colorbearer Rattle N Roll also showed potential as a juvenile when he claimed the GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity, but he struggled to find the winner's circle early in his 3-year-old season. While he did not make the Kentucky Derby, he later claimed a trio of summer derbies including the GIII Oklahoma Derby.

After a brief layoff over the winter, Rattle N Roll returned this spring to run fourth in the GII New Orleans Classic S. at Fair Grounds and then launch a winning tear over the course of six weeks, claiming the GIII Ben Ali S., GIII Pimlico Special S. and GIII Blame S.

“He's been a good horse from the beginning,” McPeek said. “When he won a Grade I at Keeneland, we knew we had our hands on a really good one. He's a get-the-job-done type of horse. When Flavien Prat rode him in the Pimlico Special, he nailed it right on time. Then when he came back in the Blame at Churchill, once again, he got the job done. He had a really troubled trip in that race and won anyway. He's a very workmanlike, easy horse to be around.”

Never one to adhere to a training rule book, McPeek 'wowed' the crowd at Churchill Downs when Rattle N Roll won the Blame S. just two weeks after he got the nose at Pimlico. McPeek explained the reasoning behind the quick return to the races.

“I think today, especially with the no Lasix in a lot of these graded races, if you've got a horse and it's sturdy enough and they're eating well and they're doing well, I don't see any reason why they can't run or shouldn't run,” he said. “I'm not one that subscribes to, 'They have to be spaced six weeks in between races to run their best race.' I do believe that people buy their horses to race them as opposed to watching them train and then running sparingly. I suppose I'm going to be criticized by some by doing that and that's fine as long as we run well and we win.”

Some might even scratch their head at McPeek's choice to enter this duo in the same Grade I contest, but the veteran trainer said that he believes the race is the best spot for each colt as individuals.

“I think it was obvious that the race for Smile Happy was the Stephen Foster and we've been plotting for this one for a couple of months,” he shared. “We'd like to go Stephen Foster to Whitney. With Rattle N Roll and the series of wins he's had, the options for him were I could have taken him to the [Prairie Meadows] Cornhusker H., which would have been another Grade III, or I could have taken him to the Suburban S. in New York, which is a Grade II. It's a lovely race, but it's not two turns so I was a little bit concerned about changing his routine from two turns to one turn.  With a clear mind, it was the right spot for both horses.”

Rattle N Roll and Smile Happy were part of the first crop of yearlings that McPeek bought for the Mackin family's Lucky Seven Stable in 2020. Rattle N Roll was a $210,000 Keeneland September purchase for McPeek and Smile Happy was a $185,000 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings buy for Lucky Seven.

The Mackins have had success in the sport both individually and as a family over several decades, but campaigning a pair of top-level older dirt colts ranks near the top of their accomplishments.

“The Mackin family has been in the game for 30 or 40 years,” McPeek shared. “They love racing, between Mike, Craig, Jeff, Jay and their sister Kim. Their mother and father made seven, but both have passed away. I'm sure that their mother and father would be really thrilled to know the kind of success they're having and we're going to try to keep it going for them. They're wonderful people and really deserve this kind of success.”

Smile Happy looks to get his first Grade I win in Saturday's GI Stephen Foster S. | Sara Gordon

McPeek will be looking to earn his first Stephen Foster victory on Saturday.

Rattle N Roll drew the fourth position and will team up with his regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. Alongside him in the five hole, Smile Happy will be ridden by Corey Lanerie, who was aboard for the colt's sophomore campaign last year.

The field also includes GII Oaklawn H. one-two-three finishers of Godolphin's Proxy (Tapit), Last Samurai (Malibu Moon)–who subsequently ran fourth in the Alysheba–and California-based Stilleto Boy (Shackleford). Ron Moquett's Speed Bias (Uncle Mo), who came close to besting Rattle N Roll in the GIII Pimlico Special, dominant GII New Orleans Classic winner West Will Power (Bernardini), and Lothenbach Stables' Happy American (Runhappy) round out the race.

Also on Saturday at Ellis Park, McPeek will be represented in the GII Wise Dan by Camp Hope (Summer Front). The 5-year-old Walking L Thoroughbreds representative was winless in his first four starts this year, but he scored in an allowance optional claimer at Churchill Downs in June.

“He's been really solid,” McPeek reported. “He won the Bryan Station S. at Keeneland as a 3-year-old. He didn't have a great 4-year-old year, but he seems to be coming back to form as a 5-year-old and his last race was superb. Brian [Hernandez Jr.] has figured him out and really rides him well.”

Camp Hope will have to take on Set Piece (GB) (Dansili {GB}), who is defending his Wise Dan title from 2021 and comes in off a win in the GIII Arlington S. on June 3. The 7-year-old Juddmonte homebred is trained by Brad Cox, who has won three of the last four editions of the turf contest.

GIII Arlington S. runner-up Get Smokin (Get Stormy) and third-place finisher Harlan Estate (Kantharos) will also vie for contention in the 10-horse field.

Rounding out the graded stakes action at Ellis on Saturday, the GII Fleur de Lis S. drew seven fillies and mares headlined by Grade I winners Pauline's Pearl (Tapit) and A Mo Reay (Uncle Mo).

The McPeek-Mackin partnership will be represented by one last stakes contender over the weekend and it's one that McPeek is more than happy to discuss.

V V's Dream was Mitole's first North American winner when she dominated in her juvenile debut on May 19 at Churchill Downs. Completing five furlongs in :57.91, her 6 1/4-length score earned 'TDN Rising Star' honors.

“V V's Dream is any kind of horse,” said McPeek. “I mean, that filly is really high-level talented.”

The $190,000 Keeneland September purchase is owned by Mike Mackin's MJM Racing and she will return to the starting gate on Sunday for the Debutante S.

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Breaking slowly and asked to race in seventh from two off the rail going into the turn, the grey bided her time as the field watched the other Mitole Cheetah Miss put up all the fractions as :21.90 and :45.59 flashed across the board.

Rolling under a full head of steam and splitting rivals from four wide as they turned for home, V V's Dream was under supremely confident handling passing the leader at the sixteenth pole. She kicked clear to win by 6 1/4 lengths, securing the nod from the TDN as well as claiming the honor of being her freshman sire (by Eskendereya)'s first North American winner and his flag-bearing 'Rising Star'. The final time was :57.91 was the five furlongs.

The most recent winner for her dam Quay, whose half-sister Quaver (Blame) is the dam of MGSW Kathleen O. (Upstart), V V's Dream hails from the female line of GISW Cupid (Tapit); MGSW Heart Ashley (Lion heart), herself responsible for MGSW-Jpn Fiano Romano (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) and that one's full-sister GSP-Aus Ameristralia (Aus)–who in turn produced GSW Ain't Easy (Into Mischief); and course-record setter, MGSW Hostess. V V's Dream is the third winner and has a yearling half-brother by Volatile who was exported to Saudi Arabia as well as a 2023 half-brother by Yaupon.

https://twitter.com/ChurchillDowns/status/1659699537395748865

3rd-Churchill Downs, $118,881, Msw, 5-19, 2yo, f, 5f, :57.91, ft, 6 1/4 lengths.
V V'S DREAM, f, 2, by Mitole
                1st Dam: Quay, by Tapit
                2nd Dam: Skipper Tale, by Tale of the Cat
                3rd Dam: Pretty 'n Smart, by Beau Genius
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $69,000. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by TVG. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. O-MJM Racing; B-Mark Stansell (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. *$130,000 Wlg '21 KEENOV; $190,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP.

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Out of Ward's stable also comes a daughter out of Freshman Sire Advertise (GB), who was a multiple Group 1 turf sprinter in Europe. Chitarra (Ire), hammered down for 300,000 guineas at the Tattersalls October Yearling sale last fall, is a Stonestreet-owned bay filly ridden by John Velazquez.

Omaha Beach is also represented here with his first stateside entry. A $250,000 KEESEP purchase, Cynane hails from a female family which includes a number of prominent Grade I winners including Pleasant Home (Seeking the Gold), Pine Island (Arch) and Point of Entry (Dynaformer). Drawn to the far outside, the Tom Morley trainee will have the services of Javier Castellano. TJCIS PPS

2nd-CD, $120K, Msw, 2yo, f, 4 1/2f, 5:29 p.m.
Fresh off Derby Week, Churchill Downs returns to action on Thursday evening and entered is a $300,000 OBSMAR purchase, which set a high mark this year among 2-Year-Olds In-Training for those by sire Maclean's Music (video). Bred by Whisper Hill Farm, trained by Brad Cox and ridden by Florent Geroux, MUSICAL DIVA's second dam Shop Glack (Smoke Glacken) is a half-sister to both GI Personal Ensign heroine Miss Shop (Deputy Minister) and Shop Again (Wild Again), who produced GISW Power Broker (Pulpit).

Opposing her will be a pair of freshman Mitole's first-time starters V V's Dream, a $190,000 KEESEP purchase trained by Kenny McPeek, and homebred April Clover from Steve Asmussen's shedrow. World of Trouble, another young sire, is represented by Girls Weekend, also making her career debut. TJCIS PPS

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