It’s been a dream season at Churchill Downs for Kenny McPeek.
McPeek capped off a historic run at his hometown track in Louisville, Kentucky, when Rattle N Roll outdueled Most Wanted and won the $600,000 Clark Stakes (G2) on Friday (Nov. 29).
The victory by the 5-year-old chestnut allowed McPeek to become the first trainer in Churchill Downs history to sweep the Kentucky Derby (G1), Kentucky Oaks (G1), and the Clark – the track’s signature races – in one season.
“It’s been a dream year here at Churchill,” McPeek said. “This is such a historic race like the Derby and Oaks and very special to be able to sweep them this year. It’s a team of people behind this horse.”
Back in May, McPeek became the third trainer to win the Oaks (with Thorpedo Anna) and the Derby (with Mystik Dan) in the same year.
Jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr., was aboard for all three wins, and is the second rider to accomplish the feat (Issac Murphy won the Derby and Clark with Buchanan and the Oaks with Modesty in 1884).
Rattle N Roll (9-2), who did not get into the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) off the also-eligible list, covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.60 in the 150th edition of the Clark and returned $11.52 for a $2 win bet. It was just his second start of the year, his first a third-place finish in the Lukas Classic (G2) on Sept. 28. For his career, Rattle N Roll is 29-9-2-3 with earnings of more than $2.1 million for Michael Mackin’s Lucky Seven Stable.
Grand Aspen led the field of eight older horses with Most Wanted right with him. Rattle N Roll raced fifth down the backstretch. Most Wanted took the around the far turn, but Rattle N Roll was tipped four-wide and drew even with three-sixteenths to go. The two matched strides in deep stretch before Rattle N Roll surged ahead just before the finish.
Hit Show, the 3-2 favorite under Tyler Gaffalione, finished third but was disqualified to fifth for interference with Crupi in deep stretch.
Also at Churchill Downs on Friday:
Kehoe Beach wins Mrs. Revere
Kehoe Beach went gate-to-wire in her stakes debut and won the $300,000 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies going 1 1/16 miles on the turf.
Trained by Wesley Ward, Kehoe Beach won for third time in a row and returned $4.20 as the even-money favorite in the field of 11.
Ridden by Frankie Dettori, Kehoe Beach won aby 1 ¼ lengths over 34-1 longshot Pounce.
“She’s a super filly,” Dettori said. “She’s strong but has pace and is very sensible. She uses her breathing right. She knows exactly how to race which makes it a push-button ride for me. When I pushed that button, she showed a great turn of foot like she did last time.”
On Thursday at Churchill Downs:
Loved takes Falls City
Loved ($10.64) won the $300,000 Falls City (G3) for fillies and mares 3 and up by 3 ¾ lengths over favorite Tarifa. Winning time for 1 1/8 miles on the turf was 1:50.17. The 5-year-old mare, ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, is trained by Brendan Walsh for Godolphin.
Duvet Day springs upset in Cardinal
Longshot Duvet Day was taken seven wide by Flavien Prat and surged to past rivals for a three-quarter length victory over favorite She’s Lookin Lucky in the $300,000 Cardinal Stakes (G3).
Duvet Day ($23) covered the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:48.79, 3/4
On Wednesday at Churchill Downs
Barnes delivers for Baffert
Barnes ($2.68) made his much-anticipated debut a winning won in a $120,000 maiden special weight, edging Innovator by a head. The 2-year-old colt was the first Bob Baffert-trainee to run at Churchill Downs following the end of the Hall of Famer’s three-year suspension by the track owners.
“It was just nice to be back in the swing of things, and in Kentucky, horse racing is huge right now because of the purses. The best horses are here in Kentucky,” Baffert said. “And I knew if I’m to kind of come here, I’m going to bring a really serious 2-year-old and I did.”
Baffert was suspended in 2021 after his colt Medina Spirit finished first in the Kentucky Derby but tested positive for a race-day overage of a medication.