On a day that Churchill Downs celebrated Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna and her connections, the $600,000 Clark Stakes (G2) delivered an applicable outcome.
Rattle N Roll rallied 4 vast to grab the lead within the stretch of the 1 1/8-mile take a look at for 3-year-olds and older after which gamely held off Most Needed ‘s try and struggle again late to land a three-quarter-length victory. Rattle N Roll is skilled by Ken McPeek and was ridden to victory by Brian Hernandez Jr., the identical connections behind Thorpedo Anna.
After all, McPeek and Hernandez additionally teamed with this yr’s Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan . Saturday’s Clark victory provides them a sweep of Churchill’s three signature stakes races. The monitor famous that McPeek is the primary coach to perform that feat. The Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Clark have been staged yearly at Churchill Downs with out interruption since 1875.
“It has been quite a lot of enjoyable; that is why we do that,” McPeek stated of profitable the day’s featured race hours after Thorpedo Anna’s season that included a victory within the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) was celebrated within the paddock. “It has been a dream yr right here at Churchill. That is such a historic race just like the Derby and Oaks and really particular to have the ability to sweep them this yr.”
Thorpedo Anna shall be named champion 3-year-old filly of 2024 and is outstanding in Horse of the 12 months consideration. McPeek, who figures to be thought-about for the Eclipse Award for excellent coach as effectively, added one other good win Friday—particularly satisfying contemplating the 5-year-old Join horse needed to overcome an extended profession layoff and a latest change of plans.
Kentucky Oaks and Breeders’ Cup Distaff winner Thorpedo Anna is paraded Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs
Thorpedo Anna Parades Nov. 29 within the Churchill Downs Paddock
After a fourth-place end within the 2023 Lukas Traditional Stakes (G2), Rattle N Roll was sidelined for the following 12 months due to distal bone bruising. He returned with a third-place end on this yr’s Lukas Traditional. McPeek noticed sufficient to pre-enter within the Breeders’ Cup Traditional (G1) and shipped Fortunate Seven Steady’s Rattle N Roll west to Del Mar however he didn’t draw into that $7 million race.
The staff reset its sights, this time targeted on the Clark.
In Friday’s take a look at, longshot Grand Aspen led the sphere of eight via early splits of :24.11, :49.15, and 1:13.04 as 3-year-old Most Needed, winner of the Ellis Park Derby and Oklahoma Derby (G3), raced simply off his proper hip. In the meantime, Rattle N Roll was content material to race lined up in fifth within the backstretch.
Halfway across the ultimate flip, Most Needed grabbed the lead however Rattle N Roll tipped out 4 vast and drew even with three-sixteenths of a mile to run. The 2 raced shoulder-to-shoulder and matched strides in deep stretch nevertheless it was Rattle N Roll who surged forward nearing the end line for the sport victory. He accomplished the race in 1:49.60 on a quick monitor.
McPeek credited assistant Greg Geier with holding Rattle N Roll prepared within the weeks main as much as the Clark.
“Numerous occasions I sort of really feel like a conductor. I understand how to play the devices, however I can not play all of them,” McPeek stated. “I strive to not micromanage my higher guys. And Greg, I’ve stated it earlier than, he is like a Swiss watch. I imply, you do not have to fret about him, he will tick immediately, and he does his factor, and I step again and go away him alone. And once I must get in the course of it, I do and nevertheless it’s an actual pleasure working with a man like that.”
Hernandez is the second jockey to brush the Oaks, Derby, and Clark in the identical season, becoming a member of Corridor of Famer Isaac Murphy who in 1884 received the Derby and Clark with Buchanan and the Oaks with Modesty.
“Successful this race is such a testomony to this horse. He is such horse,” Hernandez stated. “He was in a position to give us an ideal journey by naturally getting in a very good place early and completed the job late. He is such a proficient horse to do what he is executed through the years and only a particular particular person.”
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. and Rattle N Roll after profitable the Clark Stakes at Churchill Downs
Favored Hit Present reached the wire third however was disqualified to fifth for interference within the stretch. That call noticed Uno Mas Bourbon positioned third.
A grade 1 winner at 2, Rattle N Roll earned his first graded stakes win for the reason that Blame Stakes (G3) in June 2023. He boasts eight profession stakes wins and in incomes $360,700 Friday, his profession earnings surged previous $2 million to $2,141,641.
Rattle N Roll shall be thought-about for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park forward of a doable journey to the Center East for the profitable races there within the winter and spring.
McPeek went to $210,000 to buy Rattle N Roll on the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, the place he was consigned by Paramount Gross sales, agent. Bred in Kentucky by St. Simon Place, Rattle N Roll is out of the profitable Johannesburg mare Jazz Tune.
Rattle N Roll is the third graded stakes winner this season for Join, who will stand the 2025 season for $10,000 at Lane’s Finish close to Versailles, Ky.
