Connect Colt 'Rolls' in Breeders' Futurity

Rattle N Roll (Connect) provided his first-crop sire with a first Grade I win, and potentially a Breeders' Cup-bound colt to go along with his promising filly Hidden Connection, as he powered away to an impressive score in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland.

A three-length, third-out, two-turn maiden winner at Churchill Sept. 23, the 8-1 shot stumbled slightly at the start and sat a midpack trip while saving ground as favored Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) cleared from his wide draw through fractions of :22.81 and :46.74. Shifted out by Brian Hernandez, Jr. entering the far turn, the Lucky Seven Stable colorbearer and $210,000 KEESEP graduate revved up with a flashy, four-wide blitz rounding the bend, struck the front as they hit the top of the short stretch and powered home an impressive 4 1/4-length winner.

Double Thunder (Super Saver), a last out winner of the Sapling S. at Monmouth, grabbed second ahead of the pacesetting Classic Causeway, who entered off a sharp debut score sprinting at Saratoga.

Rattle N Roll, a rallying third from far back behind subsequent GI Hopeful S. winner Gunite (Gun Runner) on debut sprinting beneath the Twin Spires June 26, bolted on the second turn and was pulled up in a nine-furlong test at Saratoga Aug. 26 prior to his maiden breaker.

“He made a start at Churchill in the spring and it was more of a test drive than anything, trying to teach him to finish and everything,” winning trainer Ken McPeek said.

“The race at Saratoga–we were miffed by that. His left eye was closed the next morning and the only thing we could figure is that he got hit in the eye with a rock or something. So we were like, 'OK, that was a head-scratcher, what was that about?' and then we went back to work. He's never done anything [like that] before or since.

McPeek continued, “I'm just real happy for the Mackin family. I love having the opportunity to be able to buy horses for people like them. You can't go into a race with 13 horses and be overconfident, because so much can happen, and I told my wife before the race, 'If the 13 horse rolls out of there early I think we've got a real chance,' because that horse really needed to rate to win, and I think it set up well for us.”

Hernandez, Jr. added, “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. 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.” 

Source: Thoroughbred Daily News