Keeneland highlights: Lexington trainer Kenny McPeek wins Breeders’ Futurity
When Lexington trainer Kenny McPeek stopped into the stable Saturday afternoon to check on Rattle N Roll, he found an engaged horse, one who was looking around and taking notice of his environment.
By the turn for the homestretch of Saturday evening’s Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity, Rattle N Roll was more than just engaged, he was fully energized.
Rattle N Roll blasted past the rest of the field to win the Breeders’ Futurity by 4 1/4 lengths at Keeneland, earning a spot in next month’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile in the process while also winning a race known for producing Kentucky Derby talent.
First run in 1910, the Breeders’ Futurity has featured eight future Kentucky Derby winners over the past 111 years.
“You can’t go in too confident in a 13-horse field. So much has got to happen and fall right, but this horse has really learned his lessons,” McPeek said of his winning horse. “Our horse knew how to run. ... He is smart for sure.”
Brian Hernandez rode Rattle N Roll to victory in a winning time of 1:43.78 with Double Thunder in second and Classic Causeway third.
McPeek said he was not sure yet if Rattle N Roll will race in the Breeders’ Cup.
Blowout blows past field in First Lady
In a tightly contested race down the stretch, Blowout defeated Regal Glory in the $400,000, Grade 1 First Lady Stakes, a turf race that came down to the final furlong.
The two horses are stablemates as well.
Blowout was ridden by Flavien Prat and trained by Chad Brown, who has now won a record five editions of the First Lady.
Golden Pal wins Woodford
In the first of Saturday’s five stakes races, Golden Pal prevailed in the Woodford by 2 1/4 lengths in a winning time of 1:03.12.
John Velazquez piloted Golden Pal to victory, with Extravagant Kid in second, County Final in third and Johnny Unleashed in fourth.
This was the first time Velazquez had ridden Golden Pal, and he sought advice from Julio Garcia, an exercise rider and jockey for Golden Pal’s trainer, Wesley Ward, prior to the race.
“Just put your hands down and he’ll run for you; even if he gets passed he’ll run for you,” Velazquez said Garcia told him.
Two of the top three horses in the race, Golden Pal and County Final, are both Keeneland Sales graduates.
Bell’s the One finishes No. 1 in TCA
Bell’s the One finished in the spot her name denotes in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Club of America, winning by a neck.
In second was Club Car, followed by Estilo Talentoso and Inthemidstofbiz, the event’s defending champion.
Bell’s the One’s victory over the six-horse field earned her a fees-paid berth to the $1 million Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on Nov. 6 at Del Mar.
“She’s a good horse, she’s competitive, she makes my job easy,” winning jockey Corey Lanerie said.
“She’s one of the best mares, if not the best horse, I’ve ever had,” added Neil Pessin, the winning trainer of Bell’s the One.
Pessin said it remains to be seen whether Bell’s the One will race in the Breeders’ Cup.
With Inthemidstofbiz’s fourth-place finish, only one horse has still ever repeated as a winner of the TCA: Excitable Lady in 1982 and 1983.
Sunshine brings strong crowds
Saturday of Fall Stars Weekend at Keeneland brought another big crowd to the track on the opening weekend of the 17-day Fall Meet.
With the Kentucky football team’s sold-out home game against LSU taking place Saturday night, fans had plenty of time to take in afternoon racing at Keeneland before traveling to Kroger Field or settling in front of a television.
Gold and purple-clad spectators sporting LSU attire also dotted the Keeneland crowd of 21,333 on Saturday.
The official attendance for the opening day of the Fall Meet on Friday was 19,509.
This year’s Fall Meet marks the 85th anniversary of Keeneland.
More Breeders’ Cup places on the line Sunday
In addition to Bell’s the One, Blowout, Rattle N Roll and the winner of the Keeneland Turf Mile later Saturday, two horses on Friday earned spots in next month’s corresponding Breeders’ Cup races at Del Mar.
Juju’s Map won the Grade 1 Darley Alcibiades Stakes and Special Reserve won the Grade 2 Stoll Keenan Ogden Phoenix on Friday.
Three more horses will earn spots in the Breeders’ Cup from Sunday’s races at Keeneland: The winners of the Indian Summer Stakes, Juddmonte Spinster Stakes and Castle and Key Bourbon Stakes.
The field for the Indian Summer Stakes, for 2-year olds and run over 5 1/2 furlongs on turf, features undefeated Averly Jane, the Kentucky-bred daughter of Midshipman, and one of two fillies in the field.
The Juddmonte Spinster Stakes, for 3-year olds and up and featuring fillies and mares and run over 1 1/8 miles, is highlighted by the presence of Letruska, a winner of four races in a row and six of her last seven. This will be Letruska’s first start at Keeneland. She is the Kentucky-bred daughter of 2010 Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver.
Lastly, the Castle and Key Bourbon Stakes will feature a field of 14 2-year olds going 1 1/16 miles on turf.
Sunday’s card includes 10 races. First post is 1 p.m.
This story was originally published October 9, 2021 at 6:18 PM.
