Ben Ali winner Rattle N Roll will target Blame Stakes

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Trainer Kenny McPeek said Rattle N Roll will make his next start in the $225,000 Blame Stakes at Churchill Downs after the colt earned a 99 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Grade 3 Ben Ali Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland.

Rattle N Roll, owned by the Lucky Seven Stables of the Mackin family, now has won five stakes and more than $1.2 million from 16 overall starts. His Ben Ali score came with the stretch kick he developed early in his career, one that carried him to victory in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland in October 2021.

“He’s performed at a high level for us for some time now,” McPeek said. “We’ll use this as a building block toward the Blame, which hopefully will set us up for the Stephen Foster,” a Grade 1, $1 million race set for July 1 at Churchill.

Rattle N Roll, by Connect, earned a 100 Beyer in two of his three starts leading up to the Ben Ali.

“He’s really coming into his own,” McPeek said.

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Trainer Mike Puhich said Call Me Fast, second by 1 1/4 lengths as the longest shot (16-1) in the 1 3/16-mile Ben Ali, also could go next in the Blame, although the May 19 Pimlico Special will be considered too. The Pimlico Special is run at 1 3/16 miles.

“We’re pretty excited about him,” Puhich said.

The 1 1/8-mile Blame, which will be run as a Grade 3 for the first time, is one of six stakes on the Foster Preview card set for June 3.

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