McPeek pair work in company ahead of Curlin Stakes
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – While trainer Kenny McPeek has sent Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan to Keeneland to train – making it less likely that he runs in the Travers Stakes here on Aug. 24 – he still has some 3-year-olds that could earn their way to the Travers in upcoming stakes.
In addition to running Gould’s Gold in the Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy here on July 27, McPeek entered the pair of Elephants Ear and Django in Friday’s $135,000 Curlin Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles.
On Saturday, Elephants Ear and Django worked five furlongs together in 59.87 seconds over the Oklahoma track, getting their last quarter in 23.38 seconds.
Elephants Ear, a son of Vino Rosso, is coming off a 1 3/4-length allowance win at Churchill Downs on June 30 for which he earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure. Prior to that, he had finished sixth twice in the same condition.
“He had two races, he didn’t show up we didn’t know what that was about then had a good one and lit up the board,” said McPeek, noting the horse won at 47-1 odds. "We’re not sure why he ran so flat in a couple of them.”
Django, a son of Medaglia d’Oro, is coming off a head maiden victory at Churchill in what was his 10th career start.
Also entered in the Curlin were Unmatched Wisdom, a winner of two starts for trainer Chad Brown, Corporate Power, who won the Sir Barton Stakes on May 18, and Catire Vizcaya.
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