Rattle N Roll surges to Breeders' Futurity triumph
LEXINGTON, Ky. - Trainer Ken McPeek emerged from the summer race meetings with a bevy of promising juveniles, and nominated three, Lucky Boss, Rattle N Roll, and Tiz the Bomb, to the Grade 1, $500,000 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.
“I had one of those high-level dilemmas,” McPeek said of sorting out his youngsters.
Lucky Seven Stable owns both Rattle N Roll and Lucky Boss, and thus diverted Lucky Boss into the Grade 2 Bourbon Stakes on Sunday at Keeneland. McPeek still intended to run Tiz the Bomb in the Futurity, but that colt is owned by Phoenix Thoroughbreds, which already had multiple stakes winner Double Thunder, trained by Todd Pletcher, ticketed for the Futurity, and thus desired to split the colts up, with Tiz the Bomb also headed to the Bourbon.
“So I said, ‘OK, everything happens for a reason,’ ” McPeek said. “I think the older you get, you don’t force things as much.”
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McPeek's lone bullet proved more than enough, as Rattle N Roll ($19.40) rumbled down the stretch to win the Breeders' Futurity by 4 1/4 lengths. Ironically, Phoenix colorbearer Double Thunder was second.
The Breeders' Futurity is a Win and You're In event for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile on Nov. 5 at Del Mar, and has proven a formful prep. Two of its previous five winners, Classic Empire (2016) and Essential Quality (2020) went on to take the Juvenile and were voted divisional Eclipse Award champions. The Futurity has also been won in recent years by Knicks Go (2018) and Maxfield (2019), who have developed into leading older horses on target for this year's Breeders' Cup Classic.
McPeek, however, said it is "not set in stone" that Rattle N Roll will move on to the Juvenile, and that he and Michael Mackin, who co-owns Lucky Seven with his siblings, will discuss the situation in the coming weeks. McPeek cited the configuration of the Del Mar track and his desire to continue to develop Rattle N Roll for next spring's classic trail. The colt picked up 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby starting gate with the victory. If he passes on the Juvenile, he would target the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes, going two turns at Churchill Downs in November, as his next stepping stone.
“I’m gonna sit down and take our time,” McPeek said of discussing the situation with the owners. “I know that we can win the Kentucky Jockey Club, which is a good set-up race for next spring. Whether we skip the Juvenile, we’ll see. He certainly deserves to go.”
McPeek has stayed focused on the long game with Rattle N Roll, who is from the first crop of Connect. The colt turned in a promising effort going six furlongs on debut in June at Churchill Downs, rallying after a slow break to finish third behind Gunite, later the winner of the Grade 1 Hopeful Stakes.
McPeek was keen to stretch his charge out, but in his first attempt around two turns, racing two months later at Saratoga, Rattle N Roll bolted on the far turn and had to be pulled up. His connections surmised he had been struck in the eye by a dirt clod or a rock, as his left eye was swollen closed for two days after the race.
“He’s never done anything wrong before or since,” McPeek said.
Rattle N Roll returned to action to break his maiden at 1 1/16 miles on Sept. 23 at Churchill, earning himself a step up to stakes company.
The Futurity drew a large field of 13, with Classic Causeway, sent off favored following an impressive debut victory at Saratoga, drawing the outside. The colt was hustled away from the gate by Jose Ortiz in order to clear the field and save ground, and ticked off the opening quarter in 22.81 seconds while doing so. Meanwhile, Brian Hernandez Jr., who has now ridden Rattle N Roll in three of his four starts, settled his mount in a ground-saving eighth.
"He really knew him - he kept him tucked in and was patient," McPeek said. "I told [my wife] Sherri before the race, 'If [Classic Causeway] goes, we've got a real chance.' That horse really needed to learn how to run. Our horse knew how to run."
Rattle N Roll steadily advanced as he was presented with opportunities, and was fifth with just more than a quarter-mile remaining. Hernandez swung him four wide for the final drive, and Rattle N Roll exploded when clear, quickly engulfing the leaders to take a two-length lead in upper stretch. He continued to drive on to his final margin, and finished the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.78. He got an 81 Beyer Speed Figure.
“All the credit really goes to the horse, being only his fourth start, to be able to sit back there and read the race and let it develop in front of him," Hernandez said. "When I got him outside, he showed what a good horse he is. He engulfed those horses pretty easily, and turning for home he switched leads. He knows his job and he just kind of went on about it.”
Double Thunder, winner of the Grade 3 Bashford Manor at Churchill Downs and the Sapling Stakes at Monmouth, broke from the rail and found himself in 10th early. He made up significant ground to edge Classic Causeway by a half-length for second.
“He made the lead and relaxed very well," Ortiz said of the favorite. "When we got to the second turn, he got a little lost on me. I mean with his first time going two turns he was kind of wondering what was going on."
The top three were followed, in order, by American Sanctuary, Costa Terra, Mr. Bouma, Stellar Tap, Kevin's Folly, Great Escape, Seal Beach, Mac's Time, King Curlin, and Don't Wait Up. Double Thunder, Classic Causeway, and American Sanctuary earned 4, 2, and 1 points, respectively, toward the 2022 Derby.
McPeek said he and the Mackins will decide in the “coming days and weeks” whether to target the Breeders’ Cup. More immediately, he has Tiz the Bomb and Lucky Boss to saddle in Sunday's Bourbon.
“Maybe we'll win tomorrow, too,” McPeek said. “Fingers crossed.”