Churchill Downs notes: McPeek eyeing major stakes for Golden Ticket, Rosalind

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Golden Ticket and Rosalind, the two Ken McPeek horses that put in solid performances at the Breeders’ Cup, are being aimed at one more start apiece before the end of the year.

Golden Ticket, second to Goldencents in the BC Dirt Mile, could travel to New York to challenge Goldencents and Groupie Doll in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile on Nov. 30 at Aqueduct, although the Grade 1 Clark Handicap the previous day at Churchill Downs will remain an option, said McPeek.

Rosalind, third in a three-horse photo with Ria Antonia and She’s a Tiger in the BC Juvenile Fillies, could return to California for the Grade 1 Starlet at Betfair Hollywood Park on Dec. 7, although the Nov. 30 Golden Rod Stakes at Churchill will also be considered.

McPeek, who won the Starlet last year with Pure Fun, said the Starlet could be very tempting because year-end honors in the 2-year-old filly division appear to be wide open. Rosalind would have to be supplemented to the Starlet for $10,000.

“We think that if enough good ones hook up in the Starlet, there’s a chance that the winner of that race could be the champion,” said McPeek.

Both McPeek horses closed stoutly in the Breeders’ Cup. Golden Ticket surged from 10th of 11 to be the only horse close to Goldencents at the finish, and Rosalind was last of 10 early before putting in a big run.

Meanwhile, the McPeek stable figures prominently in the two stakes to be run under the lights this coming Saturday on the only Downs After Dark card of the meet, with War Dancer and Frac Daddy in the $100,000 Commonwealth Turf and Praia in the $175,000 Mrs. Revere.

Clark coming up strong

Not only is the Clark potentially shaping up as a huge race on Nov. 29, but the three Grade 2 stakes at the end of the fall meet also could be very good as well, those being the Nov. 28 Falls City Handicap and the twin 2-year-old stakes on Nov. 30, the Kentucky Jockey Club and Golden Rod.

As for the $500,000 Clark, Will Take Charge and Game On Dude both are under serious consideration in the aftermath of the BC Classic, with Bourbon Courage and Neck ‘n Neck, among others, likely to run.

Nominations close Wednesday for all four of those stakes.

Unpopular gate scratch

Many horseplayers who leaned heavily on King David in their multi-race wagers were out of luck when the Grade 1 winner was scratched at the starting gate from the ninth race Friday, leaving them with the 2-1 post-time favorite, Star Channel, who wound up fifth.

Rules permit a consolation payoff in pick three and daily double wagers once a sequence is under way, but the post-time favorite is automatically substituted in the pick four and pick five. With no winning favorites in the pick four, eight winning 50-cent tickets, worth $7,329.45 apiece, were sold.

Churchill steward Butch Becraft said a state veterinarian ordered the scratch of King David, winner of the Grade 1 Jamaica at Belmont Park last fall, on the belief the colt “was warming up poorly.”

Trainer Mike Maker said Saturday the 4-year-old colt was “perfect” and was scheduled to breeze the following morning at the Trackside training center. According to state veterinarian Will Farmer, a workout monitored by a state vet is required after a seven-day waiting period to get King David off the vet’s list and eligible to race again.

Trainer suspended 30 days

Trainer Michael Sullivan has been suspended 30 days and fined $500 for his role in the disqualification of Stew Boy from fourth in the second race Oct. 19 at Keeneland, a $10,000 claiming race. Stew Boy tested positive for a metabolite of detomidine, found in the commonly used tranquilizer, Dormosedan, a Class B medication.

Based in Lexington, Sullivan has trained a small stable since 1991, winning 33 races. His suspension runs through Dec. 10.