McPeek finalizing plans for Restless Rider, Signalman

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Kenny McPeek wears many hats, including one, apparently, as head scout. While McPeek runs Harvey Wallbanger on Saturday in the Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, he also will be able to check out the opposition on behalf of Signalman, his more highly regarded contender toward the 145th Kentucky Derby.

“It’s a very interesting group down here this year,” McPeek said. “The Holy Bull should prove a good gauge going forward, for our horse and the others.”

Like most everyone else, McPeek is looking forward to the second race in the Gulfstream series for 3-year-olds, the March 2 Fountain of Youth. It’s not only the target race for Signalman – who followed a third-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile with a victory in the Nov. 24 Kentucky Jockey Club, both at Churchill Downs – but also the red-hot prospect Hidden Scroll, who earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure in his career debut on the Jan. 26 Pegasus World Cup card.

Hidden Scroll is trained by Bill Mott, who has two other possibles for the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth in Mucho and Country House. Throw in the likes of Vekoma, Bourbon War, and Code of Honor, plus whatever Todd Pletcher and Chad Brown might have – as well as the winner and whomever else will be advancing from the Holy Bull – and the Fountain of Youth is already assuming the look of a real blockbuster.

Signalman, owned by a three-way partnership, recently arrived at Gulfstream following two months at Payson Park, where the General Quarters colt had his first official breeze as a 3-year-old when going an easy three furlongs in 39.80 seconds.

“He’ll be on a regular breeze schedule here every Saturday, starting this weekend,” McPeek said. “Everything’s gone to plan so far. As well as he ran at Churchill, we’ve got high hopes.”

McPeek also has one of the prime contenders for the May 3 Kentucky Oaks in Restless Rider, the runner-up behind Jaywalk in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.

McPeek said he is likely to defy convention when giving Restless Rider just one prep race leading into the Oaks, probably in the April 6 Ashland at Keeneland. In the meantime, Jaywalk and other Oaks hopefuls are being pointed to the one-mile Davona Dale on the Fountain of Youth undercard.

“She had six starts at 2,” he reasoned. “That’s a great foundation that gives you more flexibility than you’d have with a filly with less experience. I’m not crazy about going back to a one-turn race like the Davona Dale, so we’ll probably just train her into the Ashland and go from there.”

Restless Rider, owned by Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm, won the Grade 1 Alcibiades prior to the BC Juvenile Fillies, after which she was beaten a nose as the odds-on favorite in the Grade 2 Golden Rod at Churchill.

McPeek is as well-traveled as any trainer in North America, having made numerous forays to South America, Europe, and the Far East. He recently returned from a trip to Dubai, where four of his horses had recent races.

“It’s been a busy year already,” he said.

◗ Following four graded stakes at Gulfstream this weekend, only one graded race per Saturday will be run here until nine graded events are held Fountain of Youth Day, March 2. Those interim races are the Feb. 9 Suwanee River, the Feb. 16 Royal Delta, and the Feb. 23 Hal’s Hope.