Rattle N Roll looks to add Pimlico Special to already impressive résumé
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BALTIMORE – Grade 1 winner Rattle N Roll is the 9-5 morning-line favorite and the 126-pound highweight in Friday’s Grade 3, $250,000 Pimlico Special for 3-year-olds and up at 1 3/16 miles.
Trained by Kenny McPeek for Lucky Seven Stable, Rattle N Roll captured the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity as a 2-year-old in 2021. Briefly on the Kentucky Derby trail last year, McPeek turned his attention to easier spots during the summer and fall, and Rattle N Roll responded by winning the American Derby at Churchill, the St. Louis Derby at FanDuel, and the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby at Remington.
“I think we did a good job placing him,” McPeek said earlier this week. “We tried higher levels, and he wasn’t a top 3-year-old, but certainly a very good 3-year-old.”
Rattle N Roll finished his sophomore campaign with a fourth in the 13-furlong Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance at Keeneland, then finished fourth again, this time with a 100 Beyer Speed Figure, in the Grade 2 New Orleans Classic in his first start of 2023.
Last month, Rattle N Roll earned a career-best 101 Beyer when scoring the Grade 3 Ben Ali, traveling 1 3/16 miles at Keeneland under regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. Flavien Prat takes the mount in the Pimlico Special.
“Flavien has never ridden him before, but we were already committed to Brian being [at Churchill]. We were contemplating staying for the Blame, but this looks like a very good spot for him,” McPeek said.
Law Professor enters in sharp form for trainer Rob Atras, having won 2 of 3 stakes starts this year, with the only loss coming when third in the Grade 3 Razorback on Feb. 18 at Oaklawn.
While Rattle N Roll is more of a come-from-behind runner, Law Professor likes to race close to the pace as he did when pulling in the early stages before nabbing Aqueduct’s Excelsior on April 1.
“It’s kind of a fine line,” Atras said. “You want them aggressive, but you don’t want them trying to run off. At Oaklawn, he never really relaxed the whole time he was there. Even in the paddock, he was just sharp. Our training schedule got thrown off due to the weather. He’s the kind of horse that needs a routine.”
Law Professor has seemingly settled into a recent routine, with five workouts since the Excelsior.
Clapton pulled off at 21-1 upset in Gulfstream’s Grade 3 Ghostzapper at 1 1/16 miles on April 1 and will stretch out in the Pimlico Special for trainer Juan Alvarado. Clapton rallied from last in the Ghostzapper, and his grinding style might play well at the longer distance.
A 5 1/2-length winner of his 4-year-old debut on Jan. 7, Speed Bias finished second in his last two starts, both second-level allowances at Oaklawn for trainer Ron Moquett.
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“I really think we’re figuring out what he wants to do,” Moquett said. “He wants to run a little further. I think he’s a better horse at 1 1/8 miles and further.”
Moquett expects Speed Bias to be among the early leaders.
“I think he’s better on the front end,” Moquett said. “If you’re committed to getting him out front, we’ve proven that we can battle with good horses and fight down the lane.”
Kuchar finished second to Rattle N Roll in the American Derby, then sold for $500,000 at public auction last summer. Put away for the rest of the year, he returned with a runner-up effort in a second-level allowance on April 6 at Aqueduct. Todd Pletcher trains the Uncle Mo colt, with Irad Ortiz Jr. named to ride from the rail.
Keystone Field finished 4 1/4 lengths behind Law Professor in the Excelsior but earned a 102 Beyer four starts back at Oaklawn. He has some early speed.
Multiple stakes winner Armando R, based in Maryland for trainer Damon Dilodovico, and Grade 3-placed Cooke Creek complete the field.
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