McPeek eyes stakes for victorious youngsters
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Kenny McPeek sent out 2-year-old winners for three consecutive days in Saratoga and is now pointing that trio to stakes at Aqueduct this fall.
On Thursday, McPeek sent out the filly Rina’s Revenge to a 4 3/4-length victory going six furlongs. A daughter of Yaupon, Rina’s Revenge earned a 59 Beyer Speed Figure.
On Friday, McPeek won a 2-year-old maiden race with Stickupwithoutagun, a son of McKinzie who had finished sixth in a turf race here just two weeks earlier.
Lastly, on Saturday, McPeek won a 2-year-old maiden race with Universe, a son of Global Campaign, who rolled to a 4 1/2-length debut score, earning a 68 Beyer.
McPeek said he is pointing Rina’s Revenge to the Grade 1, $400,000 Frizette on Oct. 4 and both Stickupwithoutagun and Universe to the Grade 1, $500,000 Champagne the same day.
“Stickupwithoutagun surprised me the most,” McPeek said. “The first race was the wrong surface. He needed a test drive. I was concerned the second [race] was too short for him, but he showed a lot of early speed and it was a pleasant surprise. I thought he’d want longer than that and I think he’ll relish a mile.”
McPeek said he brought Universe to New York from Kentucky, where he had been training.
“Universe trained like a good horse from the beginning,” McPeek said. “I brought him up here after watching him at Keeneland in the spring. I thought this was a horse I wanted to be around. He had a lot of presence about him. I loved the fact we beat about $4 million worth of yearlings.”
McPeek purchased Universe for $75,000 out of the Keeneland September yearling sales. The eight horses he beat brought a combined $4.15 million at auction, including second-place finisher Dragones, who fetched $1.7 million.
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