McPeek Wants ‘The Truth’ At Oaklawn

by Ben Massam

Harold Lerner’s The Truth Or Else (Yes It’s True) is set to make his second start of 2015 in Saturday’s GII Rebel S. at Oaklawn Park, according to trainer Ken McPeek. After managing to run second despite an eventful trip in the GIII Southwest S. over the same 1 1/16-mile distance on a sloppy surface Feb. 22 (video), McPeek said he believes his sophomore charge has yet to deliver his best performance.

“He’s a horse that was really unlucky in his last race,” commented the conditioner. “He got swung wide on the first turn and went wide on the second turn–and he still almost won the race off the layoff anyway.”

The Truth Or Else trailed the field in the early stages of the Southwest before launching a sweeping move on the far turn to gain a narrow lead turning for home. The colt was outfinished by Far Right (Notional), who rallied up the rail to earn the victory. The Truth Or Else came up 3/4 of a length short, and although Far Right will not be in the starting gate for the Rebel, McPeek said that a favorable trip will likely result in marked improvement.

“We expect he’ll be better this time and also move forward fitness-wise as well,” suggested the trainer. “If he can run back to that race [in the Southwest] and save more ground, I think he’s going to be formidable.”

The 3-year-old registered a five-furlong work in 1:01.40 Sunday morning at Oaklawn, his final move before the Rebel. He is expected to face reigning juvenile champions American Pharoah (Pioneerof the Nile) and Take Charge Brandi (Giant’s Causeway).

The Truth Or Else won once from seven starts as a 2-year-old in New York, beginning June 8 and concluding with a sixth-place run in Aqueduct’s GII Remsen S. over nine furlongs Nov. 29. He also placed third in the GI Champagne S. and the GII Nashua S. McPeek acknowledged that his trainee was a bit fatigued by the end of the year, but gained useful seasoning from the extensive campaign.

“He ran all spring and summer, and then into the fall,” the Lexington native said. “I think he was a little tired the last two races, in hindsight. We gave him some time off to grow up a little bit and rest, and he seems to have come back bigger and stronger this season. His maiden win [going one mile Sept. 12] at Belmont was really impressive, and we think we’ve got him back to that.”

McPeek noted that the feedback he has gotten from Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel–who rode the chestnut for the first time in the Southwest–has been decidedly positive. Likewise, the trainer has further reason to believe The Truth Or Else can compete at the highest level in two-turn races like the Rebel.

“[Joel] Rosario rode the horse for his maiden win, and he’s really fond of him, too, so we’ve got a couple of top guys that know how talented he is on his best day,” the trainer noted. “We feel like we’re in a position to make a run at some of these big-time 3-year-old races.” 

The Truth Or Else is one component of a busy Saturday at Oaklawn for McPeek. He will also send out 2012 GI Travers S. winner Golden Ticket (Speightstown) in the GIII Razorback H. and Flashy American (Flashy Bull) in the GII Azeri S.

“We’re getting geared up. It’s that time of year,” he said.