Restless Rider overcomes major trouble to romp in Debutante
RACE REPLAY IS NOT AVAILABLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Trainers like to say that good horses can overcome trouble, and by that definition, Restless Rider would appear to be a very, very good horse.
Saturday in the $100,000 Debutante on closing day at Churchill Downs, she was checked a quarter-mile into the race to avoid an injured, retreating rival, and after losing several lengths of positioning, circled the field on her way to an 11 ¼-length victory.
The performance left not only her connections impressed, but also those that chased her. Gabe Saez, who rode runner-up Shanghai Rain, could only shake his head in wonder after the race, saying, “Are you kidding me?”
Perhaps as striking as her margin of victory, the largest in 118 runnings of the Debutante, was the short time it took Restless Rider to recover from being maneuvered away from injured early pacesetter Payntermaniac. She seemed to regain her momentum a furlong after being slowed, ultimately motoring past fillies that had passed her when the incident occurred.
A 2-year-old daughter of Distorted Humor, Restless Rider raced six furlongs on a fast Churchill track in 1:10.62, closing from fourth behind early splits of 21.41 and 45.65 seconds. She paid $4.20 as the favorite in the field of eight.
“You don’t really see young horses like this recover as she did,” said winning jockey Brian Hernandez Jr., the meet’s leading rider. “She switched leads nicely in the stretch and was powerful. It really leaves you speechless.”
Her victory left trainer Ken McPeek thinking of what may lie ahead. Although he is uncertain of her immediate racing plans, he does have a year-end goal.
“I’ve got to her ready for the Breeders’ Cup, here on her home track,” he said of the Nov. 2 Juvenile Fillies at Churchill Downs.
She gave McPeek his second straight victory in the Debutante following a win from Sunny Skies last year. He trains Restless Rider for owners Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circle Stables.
The news was unfortunate for the injured Payntermaniac. Although jockey Carlos Villasana was able to pull her up without her falling, she had to be euthanized after suffering a broken knee, trainer John Ennis said.
Completing the order of finish behind the winner and runner-up finisher Shanghai Rain were Beach Getaway, Hay Dilly, My Wynter Rose, O’Keeffe, and Miss Mission.