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Rattle N Roll looks to stamp G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic ticket in G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup; McPeek to have division at Belmont Park

by NYRA Press Office

• Rattle N Roll looks to stamp G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic ticket in G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup; McPeek to have division at Belmont Park
• Carroll sends Tyson, Duke of Love for G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup
• Unsung Melody seeks breakthrough win in G2 Prioress
• Unified Alliance vies to give Morley third stakes win of meet in G2 Prioress

Trainer Kenny McPeek is hopeful that Lucky Seven Stable’s Rattle N Roll can put together a Breeders’ Cup worthy performance in Saturday’s Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup, at Saratoga Race Course.  The 10-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up offers a “Win and You’re In” berth to the Grade 1 Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park.

The 4-year-old Connect colt has proven that he does not have to take his racetrack with him, having won five graded stakes over four different racetracks. Rattle N Roll won his stakes debut in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity in October 2021 at Keeneland and earned a triumph in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park nearly one year later. 

But Rattle N Roll’s 4-year-old season appears to be his best one yet, having put together a string of three graded stakes triumphs this year. After making a successful return to the site of his lone Grade 1 coup in the Grade 3 Ben Ali on April 22, he shipped to Pimlico Race Course to secure a narrow triumph in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special. Both efforts earned a career-high 101 Beyer Speed Figure. From there, he won the Grade 3 Blame on June 3 going nine furlongs at Churchill Downs. 

Rattle N Roll has not raced since finishing second beaten a half-length by West Will Power in the Grade 1 Stephen Foster on July 1 at Ellis Park. McPeek said a strong performance would warrant targeting the Breeders’ Cup Classic, with a possible start in the Grade 2 Lukas Classic on September 30 at Churchill Downs. 

“He’s a horse that ran hard all spring and every time we led him over there, he did great,” McPeek said. “We just felt that if we were going to make the Breeders’ Cup Classic, we should space his races a little bit. Let’s see what he does this weekend. If he runs really well with the two-month spacing, he might not run again until Breeders’ Cup. We can always come back in the Lukas Classic if we choose to, but he’s done everything we asked him, and he continued to thrive.”

McPeek said he was selective about where to run his talented colt this year. 

“We were really conservative with him as a 3-year-old and even as an older horse,” McPeek said. “We were trying to find soft spots and let him continue to win. At this stage, you got to take things to a higher level. At this point it’s up to him, but he’s been a fantastic horse to be around. How many horses win graded stakes at 2, 3 and 4? He’s been a constant professional. He can win anywhere you want to go.”

Rattle N Roll has banked $1,697,741 through a 19-8-2-2 lifetime record. He was selected by McPeek for $210,000 out of the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale and is out of the Johannesburg mare Jazz Tune, who has a Liam’s Map yearling colt entered in this year’s Keeneland September Yearling Sale listed as Hip 1300. 

McPeek will have the chance to double up on Grade 1 scores at Saratoga when he saddles first-out maiden winner Wonder Ride in Sunday’s seven-furlong $300,000 Spinaway. The 2-year-old Gun Runner filly broke her maiden going the Spinaway distance on August 13, coming from just off the pace en route to a half-length score. The triumph produced a 72 Beyer Speed Figure. 

Wonder Ride, owned and co-bred by Walking L Thoroughbreds with Fest Miles, is out of the graded stakes winning New York-bred Wonderment, who was campaigned by McPeek. Wonder Ride was raised on McPeek’s Magdalena Farm in Central Kentucky. He said breeding to Gun Runner was a no-brainer. 

“That wasn’t a hard decision,” McPeek said, with a laugh. “But physically, I felt that Gun Runner was going to help the mare and maybe contribute a little added balance and speed and he’s done it. He’s a once in a lifetime stallion. He’s a very well made horse. Whether you breed him to a big mare or a little mare, I think he adds his influence.”

McPeek also reported that he will keep a string of about 20 horses at Belmont Park following the conclusion of the Saratoga meet. He said he plans on running at the Belmont at the Big A meet through the fall and possibly into Aqueduct’s fall and winter meet. 

“I think we have the numbers to be able stay and I have some horses that I want to run up there in New York, so we decided to set up a division there,” McPeek said. “I think it’s ideal for us to leave some horses up there during the fall and maybe even the winter if all goes well.”

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Carroll sends Tyson, Duke of Love for G1 Jockey Club Gold Cup

Trainer Josie Carroll, who was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2019, will send out a pair of strong contenders in Tyson and Duke of Love in Saturday's Grade 1, $1 million Jockey Club Gold Cup. The 10-furlong test for 3-year-olds and up offers a "Win and You're In" berth to the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Classic in November at Santa Anita Park.

Carroll teamed up with Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame jockey Robert Landry to win the 2009 Grade 1 Alabama here with the flashy grey Careless Jewel, who entered on a trio of frontrunning wins topped by a score in the Grade 2 Delaware Oaks.

“It was one of the most exciting races I've been a part of - what sticks out in my mind is her dumping the rider twice before the race and that fear that we were even going to get to run,” recalled Carroll, with a laugh. “She stumbled leaving there and didn't assume her usual position which just worked out fortuitously for her. She was brilliant that day.”

Hill ‘n’ Dale Equine Holdings and Stretch Run Ventures' Kentucky homebred Tyson has raced exclusively on synthetic surfaces, entering from a pair of wins over Tapeta at Woodbine Racetrack with a rallying effort in the nine-furlong Grade 3 Dominion Day on July 1 and a prominent score in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Seagram Cup on July 29.

“He came out of his last race really well. It didn't take a lot out of him and he's had plenty of time in between. I'm happy to be here with him,” said Carroll, who also enjoyed NYRA-circuit success with Springside, who captured the 2008 Grade 2 Demoiselle in rein to the late Hall of Famer Garrett Gomez at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Tyson has won 4-of-5 starts, graduating in March 2022 over the Gulfstream Park synthetic while in the care of Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher. The 4-year-old Tapit colt then transferred to Carroll and captured an optional-claiming route in May at Woodbine while racing from a more than one-year layoff. His lone non-winning effort came when third in June in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 2 Eclipse at Woodbine.

Tyson has breezed on dirt over the winter in Florida, but has worked exclusively over Woodbine's Tapeta surface in preparation for the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He trained over dirt here this morning under exercise rider Tyler Gaskin.

“He breezed all winter on dirt at Payson Park and he handled it well,” Carroll said. “I'm pretty comfortable with the way he gets across it, but you don't know until you run. He trained here this morning and my exercise rider said he dragged him around there.”

Tyson is out of the Smart Strike mare Honouring – a full-sister to Grade 1-winner Streaming as well as being a half-sister to Modeling, whose fifth offspring Arcangelo captured this year’s Grade 1 Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets and Grade 1 Travers. His third dam, Better Than Honour, produced Hall of Famer Rags to Riches and Belmont Stakes-winner Jazil.

It's a family Carroll is familiar with having trained Tyson’s second dam, Teeming.

“I probably go back three generations with the family and they've all been incredibly talented horses. It's really exciting to have one in a Grade 1,” Carroll said.

Manny Franco has the call from post 6 aboard Tyson, who is listed at 5-1 on the morning line. 

“Manny has been incredibly strong at this meet,” Carroll said. “Tyson is a very kind horse to ride and he'll do whatever the rider asks. It's a nice position to be in with an outside post where he can see how the race unfolds and judge from there.”

My Racehorse's Duke of Love, bred in Ontario by Caldara Farm, Patrick Costello, David Whitford and Tom Zwiesler, was purchased for $85,000 at the 2021 Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training Sale. 

The 4-year-old Cupid colt boasts a record of 12-4-1-0 for purse earnings of $443,817 and is a perfect 2-for-2 on dirt with wins over a muddy and sealed main track in last year's 1 3/16-mile Prince of Wales - the middle leg of the Canadian Triple Crown at Fort Erie - and a last-out score in the 1 1/16-mile Grade 3 West Virginia Governor's over a good main track on August 6 at Mountaineer.

Duke of Love entered his Mountaineer score from a fading seventh in the Dominion Day after attending a swift early pace.

“He had run well in the Dominion Day but maybe got a little tired - he was forwardly placed. We saw the Governor's and thought it was a good spot to try him on the dirt again, and he was tenacious. He really impressed me, so if ever there was a time to take a shot it's now. He's on his game,” Carroll said.

Luis Contreras, who captured the 2017 Grade 3 Schuylerville here with Dream It Is, will guide Duke of Love from post 7 with a 15-1 morning line assessment. The multiple Sovereign Award-winning jockey has ridden Duke of Love through each of his past two outings.

“Luis seems to get along really well with Duke of Love,” Carroll said. “He runs with his head a little high, a little cocked. Luis throws his head away and the horse seems really comfortable running for him.”

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Unsung Melody seeks breakthrough win in G2 Prioress

WSS Racing’s stakes-placed Unsung Melody will see a cutback in distance for her graded stakes debut in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress for sophomore fillies going six furlongs at Saratoga Race Course. 

Trained by John Ortiz, Unsung Melody made her stakes debut in Opening Week’s restricted Wilton on July 14, going one mile from the Wilson Chute. The Maclean’s Music bay rated a close second down the backstretch and finished a distant third behind the frontrunning Randomized, who exited that effort with a triumph in the Grade 1 Alabama presented by Keeneland Sales on August 19 at the Spa. 

Unsung Melody captured both of her wins going the Prioress distance when graduating at third asking on March 11 at Oaklawn Park over next-out winner Into Love. She defeated winners by 3 1/2 lengths two starts later on June 18 at Ellis Park, which garnered a career-high 84 Beyer Speed Figure. 

Unsung Melody has only logged one breeze since her most recent outing when going a half-mile in 49.75 seconds on August 13 over the Saratoga main track. Ortiz said he has trained her similarly to his graded stakes winning juvenile filly Brightwork, who is entered in the Grade 1, $300,000 Spinaway on Sunday at the Spa. 

“She’s been doing really well. We’ve been training her in interval training, like we did with Brightwork,” Ortiz said. “She’s been on Clare Court going nice and easy, we took her to the main track and let her have some strong gallops. We gave her one week going into this, and we realized that she likes to go into races very fresh and so we’re hoping that she’s as fresh as can be and she takes them wire to wire.”

Unsung Melody is out of the Bodemeister mare Narrow Sea. Her third dam Magical Flash produced Glinda the Good – the dam of 2017 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt and leading second crop sire Good Magic. She was bought for $65,000 as a weanling at the 2020 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Ortiz reported that Brent Gasaway’s dual stakes-placed juvenile filly Crown Imperial will eye stakes action at Kentucky Downs following a narrow runner-up effort to Amidst Waves in the Bolton Landing on August 20 over Saratoga’s Mellon turf course. The dark bay daughter of Classic Empire was previously third to the same rival in the Colleen on July 29 at Monmouth Park, which was her turf debut. She was previously a two-length debut winner over the main track in May at Horseshoe Indianapolis before finishing second in the Prairie Gold Lassie in July at Prairie Meadows. 

Ortiz said Crown Imperial could target the $500,000 Untapable on September 13 going 6 1/2 furlongs at Kentucky Downs. 

“We’re looking at the Untapable and we’re hoping to get Tyler Gaffalione back on her,” Ortiz said. “He suggested it and the filly could stretch out some more. She’s got all heart and has never disappointed us in any of her starts. We’re just going to keep chasing the dream with her.” 

Crown Imperial is out of the Congrats mare Mi Fiori – a half-sister to 2019 Grade 3 Poker winner Gucci Factor.

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Unified Alliance vies to give Morley third stakes win of meet in G2 Prioress

Reagan Jack Racing’s stakes-winner Unified Alliance looks to double up on Spa stakes score for trainer Tom Morley in Saturday’s Grade 2, $250,000 Prioress, a six-furlong sprint for sophomore fillies, at Saratoga Race Course.

Unified Alliance enters from a tidy pacesetting triumph in the off-the-turf Coronation Cup traveling 5 1/2 furlongs on July 14 at the Spa under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano. It was the daughter of Unified’s first start for Morley after making her first six outings for conditioner John Servis, including a runner-up effort to L Street Lady in the six-furlong Jersey Girl on June 11 at Belmont Park. 

“She’s doing very good,” said Morley. “Any stakes win at Saratoga is a huge thrill, so to get one in the first week of the meet was massive for the barn. We toyed with the idea of going to Charles Town with her, but she’s won a stake over the track here and the next step is to try and get her graded black type.”

Unified Alliance won on debut in December going the Prioress distance at Parx Racing, and followed with two on-the-board efforts in optional claiming tilts before breaking through with a 10 1/4-length romp for her first triumph against winners in a seven-furlong sprint at the Bensalem oval. 

Morley said Unified Alliance continues to change for the better since the Coronation Cup. 

“She’s three and she’s a big girl, and I think when these 3-year-old fillies do start improving, the best thing you can do is stay out of their way,” said Morley. “Her works have been fabulous up here, and her coat and her weight are very good. We’re really looking forward to it.” 

Castellano has been tasked with the ride again from post 2-of-5 with the speedy pair of Alva Starr and Dazzling Blue drawing posts four and five, respectively. 

“I would have preferred an outside post position,” said Morley. “But, she’s a straightforward filly and I’m really looking forward to how she gets on. I think there’s enough speed in the race where I don’t think [the compact field] hinders anyone, but I would have preferred to be outside that speed – those fillies look like they’ll be a little faster than us to the turn, but she should sit a nice stalking trip.” 

Morley was slated to send out VinLaur, West Paces and Rainbow’s End’s talented Cynane in Wednesday’s P.G. Johnson at the Spa, but withdrew the daughter of Omaha Beach after the race was moved to the main track. Morley said Cynane will now turn her attention to the $500,000 Global Tote Juvenile Fillies on September 10 at Kentucky Downs. 

“That was a tough pill to swallow,” Morley said of the scratch. “She’s an extremely talented filly. But, we’ll regroup and have another go at it. She’s incredibly laid back and an accomplished traveler. I don’t think the extra week does her any harm or me any good. She was ready to run yesterday, but we have to take that on the chin and go forward.”

Cynane was set to make her two-turn debut on the heels of a trip to Royal Ascot in June, where she finished off-the-board in the Group 2 Queen Mary. She was an impressive winner on debut in May at Belmont Park when leading each step of the way to notch a 2 3/4-length score in a five-furlong maiden tilt. 

Morley added he will also send Son of a Birch, whom he co-owns with Santa Rey Stable, to Kentucky Downs for the Grade 2, $1 million Franklin Simpson on September 9. The Temple City gelding finished a closing fifth in the Mahony on August 13 here, defeated just 1 3/4 lengths by the victorious Closethegame Sugar. 

A $30,000 purchase at the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearling Sale, Son of a Birch is a half-brother to Melting Snow, a 12-time winner from 25 starts with over $400,000 in total purse earnings.