Churchill Downs
The story of a high-quality Thanksgiving weekend of racing at Churchill Downs was undoubtedly Ken McPeek, who sent out four impressive winners on Saturday's all-2-year-old Stars of Tomorrow card, including GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. hero Smile Happy (Runhappy) and 'TDN Rising Star' Cocktail Moments (Uncle Mo), to follow up a six-length victory by his Envoutante (Uncle Mo) in Thursday's GII Falls City S. Tuesday, the thoughtful McPeek sat down for an expansive interview with the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland to talk about his loaded barn of promising...
After a dominating weekend with 2-year-olds at Churchill Downs, trainer Kenny McPeek joined this week's TDN Writers' Room to discuss his young stars, plus his opinion on upcoming changes in the sport with the implementation of HISA.
Presumptive 2-year-old champion male and GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile hero Corniche (Quality Road) will be freshened briefly at WinStar Farm in Kentucky this winter before returning to Bob Baffert's barn, according to a report in Daily Racing Form. Marette Farrell, who purchased the $1.5-million colt for Speedway Stable, said Corniche was sent to Kentucky last Wednesday. "It's time to give him a little bit of a break," Farrell told DRF. "Speedway likes to use WinStar for lay-ups. He can be turned out, graduate to a paddock, and they have a...
Marissa's Lady took her record to two-for-two with her first black-type score at Churchill Saturday night. Rallying to a narrow score in her career bow over this strip Oct. 31, she was given a 3-1 chance in this event. Stalking from a second through a snappy first quarter in :22.18, the gray charged up to take control turning for home. Matareya confronted her on the fence, but Marissa's Lady found more late, rolling clear to score. Marissa's Lady is the 34th black-type winner for her sire Violence. Her dam produced...
Smile Happy (Runhappy) built on a monster 'TDN Rising Star'-worthy debut victory on closing day at Keeneland Oct. 29 with an equally eye-catching score in Saturday's GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. Saturday at Churchill Downs, establishing himself as one of the early favorites for the GI Kentucky Derby about six months down the road. Welcome to Fantasy Island, Lucky Seven Stable. A generous 24-5 third favorite despite the domination of that towering 5 1/2-length graduation, Smile Happy landed in about fifth spot, just ahead of centerfield, as Street Sense S....
On this day 12 months ago, Robertino Diodoro saddled Cypress Creek Equine and partners' Keepmeinmind (Laoban) to a popular maiden-breaking victory in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. en route to a trip down the Triple Crown trail. Saturday afternoon beneath the Twin Spires, the same connections' Dream Lith (Medaglia d'Oro) officially served notice that she is on a GI Longines Kentucky Oaks trajectory, overcoming a tricky trip to post a narrow success in the GII Golden Rod S. When favored Rags To Riches S. winner Sandstone (Street Sense) failed...
Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency GUN RUNNER FILLIES DEBUT AT CHURCHILL 7th-CD, $120k, Msw, 2yo, 6f, 3:57 p.m. Freshman sire Gun Runner is represented by a pair of debuting fillies in this six-furlong affair. Richard Baltas saddles PEACE PEDDLER (GUN RUNNER), a $200,000 KEESEP yearling purchase, for Calvin Nguyen. The bay filly is a daughter of Canadian champion Embur's Song (Unbridled's Song). Steve Asmussen sends out Stonestreet homebred Ari Oakley (Gun Runner), a daughter of Belle of Perintown (Dehere) and half-sister to graded winner Strike It Rich (Unbridled's Song) and...
Cocktail Moments (f, 2, Uncle Mo--River Maid, by Where's the Ring) turned in a powerful, come-from-behind victory for 'TDN Rising Star' honors on debut at Churchill Downs Saturday afternoon. The dark bay didn't offer many clues on her worktab and completed preparations for Kenny McPeek with a three-furlong spin in :37 1/5 (5/14) beneath the Twin Spires Nov. 24. Overlooked at odds of 26-1, the Dixiana Farms colorbearer, drawn wide in post 11, was outsprinted in 10th through an opening quarter in :22.37. She began to roll as they rounded...
The connections of Maxfield (Street Sense) had been hoping the colt could add one more Grade I to his resume before retiring to stand the 2022 season at his owner's Jonabell Farm. The Godolphin homebred rewarded their faith at the 11th hour with a stylish score in his career finale in Friday's GI Clark H. at Churchill Downs, a track at which he is undefeated. Dispatched at even-money along with hard-knocking GSW & MGISP Midnight Bourbon (Tiznow), Maxfield was away in good order from the outside post in this eight-horse...
Howling Time (Not This Time) will try to take his record to three-for-three as the likely favorite in the GII Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill Downs Saturday. Graduating on debut sprinting at Churchill Sept. 25, the Albaugh Family Stables colorbearer took to two turns with aplomb, winning the Oct. 1 Street Sense S. by 3 1/4 lengths. Also exiting the Street Sense are third place Red Knobs (Union Rags) and fifth place Guntown (Gun Runner). "We always thought he showed some promise in his training," trainer Dale Romans said....
'TDN Rising Star' Famed (Uncle Mo), currently best known as the half-sister to champion Essential Quality (Tapit), looks to forge her own path as she takes on stakes company in the GII Golden Rod S. at Churchill Downs Saturday. Runner-up in her six-panel debut at Churchill Sept. 26, the dark bay broke through next out with a 7 3/4-length decision going seven furlongs at Keeneland Oct. 30. Famed will have to contend with impressive Rags to Riches S. winner Sandstone (Street Sense). Third behind next-out Debutante S. winner and stablemate...
Godolphin homebred Maxfield (Street Sense) will look to take one more trip to the Churchill Downs winner's circle in Friday's GI Clark H. before he joins Darley's stallion roster for next year. The Grade I winner boasts a perfect four-for-four record under the Twin Spires, having most recently dominated the GII Stephen Foster S. over this same distance in June. Second to expected Horse of the Year Knicks Go (Paynter) in Saratoga's Aug. 7 GI Whitney S. and again to streaking Art Collector (Bernardini) in the GI Woodward S. at...