On a day that Churchill Downs celebrated Kentucky Oaks (G1) winner Thorpedo Anna and her connections, the $600,000 Clark Stakes (G2) delivered an appropriate result.
Rattle N Roll rallied four wide to seize the lead in the stretch of the 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds and older and then gamely held off Most Wanted's attempt to fight back late to land a three-quarter-length victory. Rattle N Roll is trained by Ken McPeek and was ridden to victory by Brian Hernandez Jr., the same connections behind Thorpedo Anna.
Of course, McPeek and Hernandez also teamed with this year's Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Mystik Dan. Saturday's Clark victory gives them a sweep of Churchill's three signature stakes races. The track noted that McPeek is the first trainer to accomplish that feat. The Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Clark have been staged every year at Churchill Downs without interruption since 1875.
"It's been a lot of fun; that's why we do this," McPeek said of winning the day's featured race hours after Thorpedo Anna's season that included a victory in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) was celebrated in the paddock. "It's been a dream year here at Churchill. This is such a historic race like the Derby and Oaks and very special to be able to sweep them this year."
Thorpedo Anna will be named champion 3-year-old filly of 2024 and is prominent in Horse of the Year consideration. McPeek, who figures to be considered for the Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer as well, added another nice win Friday—especially satisfying considering the 5-year-old Connect horse had to overcome a long career layoff and a recent change of plans.
Thorpedo Anna Parades Nov. 29 in the Churchill Downs Paddock
After a fourth-place finish in the 2023 Lukas Classic Stakes (G2), Rattle N Roll was sidelined for the next 12 months because of distal bone bruising. He returned with a third-place finish in this year's Lukas Classic. McPeek saw enough to pre-enter in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and shipped Lucky Seven Stable's Rattle N Roll west to Del Mar but he did not draw into that $7 million race.
The team reset its sights, this time focused on the Clark.
In Friday's test, longshot Grand Aspen led the field of eight through early splits of :24.11, :49.15, and 1:13.04 as 3-year-old Most Wanted, winner of the Ellis Park Derby and Oklahoma Derby (G3), raced just off his right hip. Meanwhile, Rattle N Roll was content to race covered up in fifth in the backstretch.
Midway around the final turn, Most Wanted grabbed the lead but Rattle N Roll tipped out four wide and drew even with three-sixteenths of a mile to run. The two raced shoulder-to-shoulder and matched strides in deep stretch but it was Rattle N Roll who surged ahead nearing the finish line for the game victory. He completed the race in 1:49.60 on a fast track.
McPeek credited assistant Greg Geier with keeping Rattle N Roll ready in the weeks leading up to the Clark.
"A lot of times I kind of feel like a conductor. I know how to play the instruments, but I can't play them all," McPeek said. "I try not to micromanage my better guys. And Greg, I've said it before, he's like a Swiss watch. I mean, you don't have to worry about him, he's going to tick right away, and he does his thing, and I step back and leave him alone. And when I need to get in the middle of it, I do and but it's a real pleasure working with a guy like that."
Hernandez is the second jockey to sweep the Oaks, Derby, and Clark in the same season, joining Hall of Famer Isaac Murphy who in 1884 won the Derby and Clark with Buchanan and the Oaks with Modesty.
"Winning this race is such a testament to this horse. He's such a good horse," Hernandez said. "He was able to give us a perfect trip by naturally getting in a really good position early and finished the job late. He's such a talented horse to do what he's done over the years and just a special individual."
Favored Hit Show reached the wire third but was disqualified to fifth for interference in the stretch. That decision saw Uno Mas Bourbon placed third.
A grade 1 winner at 2, Rattle N Roll earned his first graded stakes win since the Blame Stakes (G3) in June 2023. He boasts eight career stakes wins and in earning $360,700 Friday, his career earnings surged past $2 million to $2,141,641.
Rattle N Roll will be considered for the Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park ahead of a possible trip to the Middle East for the lucrative races there in the winter and spring.
McPeek went to $210,000 to purchase Rattle N Roll at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale, where he was consigned by Paramount Sales, agent. Bred in Kentucky by St. Simon Place, Rattle N Roll is out of the winning Johannesburg mare Jazz Tune.
Rattle N Roll is the third graded stakes winner this season for Connect, who will stand the 2025 season for $10,000 at Lane's End near Versailles, Ky.
