Recent Pimlico Special Winner Rattle N Roll Returns In Blame on ‘Stephen Foster Preview Day’
May 29, 2023
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Monday, May 29, 2023) – Lucky Seven Stable’s Rattle N Roll, who was victorious one week ago in the Pimlico Special (Grade III), is slated to return to Churchill Downs and face seven rivals entered in Saturday’s fourth running of the $225,000 Blame Stakes (GIII), the featured race on “Stephen Foster Preview Day.”
The 1 1/8-mile Blame can be used as a prep for the $1 million Stephen Foster (GI) that will be run four weeks later at Churchill Downs. The Blame was tabbed as Race 10 of 11 with a post time of 5:26 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.
Along with the Blame, the program also will feature the $225,000 Arlington Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Regret Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Shawnee Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Aristides Stakes (Listed) and $225,000 Audubon Stakes (Listed).
Trained by Kenny McPeek, Rattle N Roll is a Grade I-winning son of Connect. Rattle N Roll was well meant as a 2-year-old following his victory in the Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland. At age 3, Rattle N Roll targeted the Road to the Kentucky Derby but did not qualify for the “Run for the Roses.” Following the first Saturday in May, Rattle N Roll tallied victories in the American Derby, St. Louis Derby and Oklahoma Derby (GIII).
Now a 4-year-old, Rattle N Roll began his campaign with a fourth-place finish in the New Orleans Classic (GII) at Fair Grounds but returned to the winner’s circle one month later at Keeneland in the Ben Ali Stakes (GIII). On Black Eyed Susan Day at Pimlico, Rattle N Roll scored in the 1 3/16-mile Pimlico Special when he rallied from eight lengths off the pace to defeat Speed Bias by a nose.
Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. was named on the seven-time winner Rattle N Roll for the Blame and will break from the rail.
The Top 4 finishers from the Ben Ali were entered in the Blame. Giddyup Stables and Tom Lambro’s Call Me Fast finished as the runner-up, only 1 ¼ length behind Rattle N Roll in the April 22 contest. The 4-year-old gelded son of Dialed In is a three-time winner and will be ridden by Julien Leparoux from post No. 4.
Call Me Fast crossed the line a half-length better than Sumaya U.S. Stables’ Pioneer of Medina. The Todd Pletcher-trained colt recorded his first graded stakes victory three months ago in the Mineshaft (GIII) at Fair Grounds. Pioneer of Medina will be ridden by Luis Saez, who was aboard the 4-year-old son of Pioneerof the Nile in the Mineshaft, from post 7.
Lothenbach Stables’ five-time winner Happy American was defeated 4 ¾ lengths by Rattle N Roll in the Ben Ali. The 5-year-old gelded son of Runhappy tallied his lone graded stakes victory four months ago at Fair Grounds when he charged from 5 ½ lengths off the pace to win the Louisiana Stakes (GIII) under jockey James Graham. Trained by Neil Pessin, Happy American drew post 6 in the Blame and will once again have the riding services of Graham.
Another classy horse that entered in the Blame is Godolphin’s Santin, who won multiple Grade I races at Churchill Downs on the turf. Trained by Brendan Walsh, Santin scored a neck victory in the 2022 Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic (GI) at Churchill Downs and returned to Grade I glory in the Arlington Million in mid-August beneath the Twin Spires. The Blame would be Santin’s first start on dirt with 12 prior races coming on turf or Tapeta. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will ride Santin out of post 5.
The complete Blame field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Rattle N Roll (Hernandez, McPeek); Masqueparade (Corey Lanerie, Al Stall Jr.); Barber Road (Rey Gutierrez, John Ortiz); Call Me Fast (Leparoux, Michael Puhich); Santin (Gaffalione, Walsh); Happy American (Graham Pessin); Pioneer of Medina (Saez, Pletcher); and Cooke Creek (Adam Beschizza, Jeremiah O’Dwyer).
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
TEN-TIME CHURCHILL DONWS WINNER BANGO TO FACE GRADE I VICTOR SIBELIUS, MULTIPLE GRADED STAKES HERO GUNITE IN $225,000 ARISTIDES STAKES – Tamaroak Partners’ 10-time local winner Bango will attempt to tie the all-time win mark at Churchill Downs in Saturday’s 35th running of the $225,000 Aristides Stakes (Listed) while facing off against two of the top sprinters in North America – Jun Park and Delia Nash’s Sibelius and Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Gunite.
The Aristides Stakes, which will go as Race 6 of 11, has a post time of 3:18 p.m. Dubbed as “Stephen Foster Preview Day,” the Aristides is one of six stakes events on the program. The others are the $225,000 Arlington Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Blame Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Regret Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Shawnee (GIII) and $225,000 Audubon (Listed). First post is 12:45 p.m.
Bango, trained by Greg Foley, has won the last two editions of the Aristides. The speedy homebred son of Congrats enters the Aristides following a five-length score in the St. Matthews Stakes on Thurby. If Bango prevails in the Aristides, he’d tie Ready’s Rocket for the all-time win leader at Churchill Downs. Hall of Famer John Velazquez will have the call from post No. 4.
Sibelius is slated to make his return to North American racing following his victory in the Dubai Golden Shaheen (GI) on March 25. Trained by Jeremiah O’Dwyer, Sibelius defeated fellow Aristides rival Gunite in the Dubai Golden Shaheen by a half-length. The 5-year-old gelded son of Not This Time has won seven races in his 19-race campaign. In last year’s Bet On Sunshine Stakes at Churchill Downs, Sibelius was defeated three-quarters of a length to Bango. Junior Alvarado will have the mount from the rail.
Grade II winner Gunite has been regularly preparing for the Aristides at Churchill Downs. The well-traveled son of Gun Runner began his 4-year-old stand with a victory in the King Cotton Stakes at Oaklawn prior to his runner-up effort in the Riyadh Dirt Sprint (GIII) in Saudi Arabia and his narrow third-place effort in the Dubai Golden Shaheen. Gunite will be piloted by Tyler Gaffalione from post 3.
Here is the complete field for the Aristides from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Sibelius (Alvarado, O’Dwyer); Tejano Twist (Chris Landeros, Chris Hartman); Gunite (Gaffalione, Asmussen); Bango (Velazquez, Foley); and Strava (Luis Saez, Dallas Stewart).
The Aristides Stakes will be run one month in advance of the $225,000 Kelly’s Landing (Listed) on the July 1 Stephen Foster Day at Churchill Downs.
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
GRADE I WINNER PAULINE’S PEARL TOPS $225,000 SHAWNEE STAKES – Stonestreet Stables’ Grade I winner Pauline’s Pearl leads a field of eight fillies and mares that entered Saturday’s fourth running of the $225,000 Shawnee Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs.
The Shawnee was carded as Race 8 on the 11-race program. First post is 12:45 p.m. and the Shawnee field will break at approximately 4:22 p.m. The Shawnee is one of six stakes contests on the “Stephen Foster Preview Day” program. The other five stakes on the card are the $225,000 Arlington Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Blame Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Regret (GIII), $225,000 Aristides (Listed) and $225,000 Audubon (Listed).
Trained by Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, Pauline’s Pearl faded to sixth in this year’s La Troienne (GI) on Kentucky Oaks Day but, in the 2022 edition, the daughter of Tapit finished a half-length better than former Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) heroine Shedaresthedevil. Pauline’s Pearl will be ridden in the Shawnee by Tyler Gaffalione from post No. 3.
Chief among Pauline’s Pearl competition is Godolphin’s Doubledogdare Stakes (GIII) winner Frost Point. Trained by Bill Mott, Frost Point finished three-quarters of a length better than fellow Shawnee competitor Hidden Connection in the Doubledogdare at Keeneland. Previously, the 5-year-old daughter of Frosted scored a convincing 6 ¼-length win in the Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct. Junior Alvarado will have the mount from post 6.
Here is the Shawnee field from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Soul of an Angel (Adam Beschizza, Gerald James); Travel Column (Cristian Torres, Paulo Lobo); Pauline’s Pearl (Gaffalione, Asmussen); Idiomatic (Florent Geroux, Brad Cox); Sixtythreecaliber (Edgar Morales, Tom Amoss); Frost Point (Alvarado, Mott); Hidden Connection (Rey Gutierrez, Bret Calhoun); and Moon Swag (Luis Saez, Brendan Walsh).
Many horses who entered the Shawnee could use the race as a prep for the July 1, $400,000 Fleur de Lis (GII).
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
CLASSY VETERAN SET PIECE (GB) HEADLINES GRADE III, $225,000 ARLINGTON STAKES – Juddmonte’s 7-year-old gelding Set Piece (GB), a multiple graded stakes winner across North America, tops a field of seven turf specialists that entered Saturday’s 87th running of the $225,000 Arlington Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs.
The Arlington is one of six stakes events on the “Stephen Foster Preview Day” card. Run at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, the Arlington was carded as Race 9 of 11 with a post time of 4:55 p.m. First post is 12:45 p.m. The stakes-laden program at Churchill Downs also will feature the $225,000 Blame Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Regret Stakes (GIII), $225,000 Shawnee (GIII), $225,000 Aristides (Listed) and $225,000 Audubon Stakes (Listed).
Trained by Brad Cox, the 11-time winner Set Piece made his return to the races on Thurby at Churchill Downs when he finished a fast-closing third in the Opening Verse Stakes under jockey Florent Geroux. Set Piece is a four-time winner beneath the Twin Spires, most notably in last year’s $400,000 Wise Dan Stakes (GII), which will be run one month from the Arlington at Churchill Downs. Set Piece drew post No. 7 in the Arlington and will once again be ridden by Geroux.
Other classy horses that entered the Arlington include Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper’s Belmont Derby (GI) hero Classic Causeway and Ironhorse Racing Stable, BlackRidge Stables, T-N-T Equine Holdings and Saratoga Seven Racing Partners’ multiple graded stakes winner Get Smokin.
Here’s the complete field for the Arlington from the inside out (with jockey and trainer): Get Smokin (Ricardo Santana Jr., Mark Casse); Kentucky Ghost (Rafael Bejarano, Vicki Oliver); Classic Causeway (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Tiberius Mercurius (Luis Saez, Mike Maker); Harlan Estate (Declan Cannon, Whit Beckman); Royal Patronage (FR) (John Velazquez, Graham Motion); and Set Piece (Geroux, Cox).
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
GRADE II WINNER PAPILIO (IRE) LEADS WIDE-OPEN REGRET STAKES – D. J. Stable, Medallion Racing, Barry Fowler and Parkland Thoroughbreds’ classy 3-year-old turf specialist Papilio (IRE) tops a wide-open field of six fillies entered in Saturday’s $225,000 Regret Stakes (GIII) at Churchill Downs.
Run at 1 1/16 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course for 3-year-old fillies, the Regret is slated as Race 5 with a post time of 2:45 p.m. The first of 11 races on the Saturday program will get underway at 12:45 p.m. Dubbed as “Stephen Foster Preview Day”, the stakes-riddled card will also include the $225,000 Arlington (GIII), $225,000 Blame (GIII), $225,000 Shawnee (GIII), $225,000 Aristides (Listed) and $225,000 Audubon.
Trained by Mark Casse, Papilio finished fourth, beaten one length in the $500,000 Edgewood (GII) on Kentucky Oaks Day. Previously, the daughter of Starspangledbanner (AUS) was victorious in the Appalachian (GII) at Keeneland. The 2023 Kentucky Derby (GI) winning rider Javier Castellano will have the call from post No. 5.
RyZan Sun Racing and Madaket Stables’ Mission of Joy is set to return in the Regret for trainer Graham Motion. Mission of Joy finished a troubled third in the Edgewood under jockey Joel Rosario when she had to alter course in the late stages of the 1 1/16-mile contest. Prior to competing in the Edgewood, Mission of Joy won the Florida Oaks (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs. Jockey Tyler Gaffalione will have the mount for the first time from post 3.
Here is the field for the Regret from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Miss Riddler (Luis Saez, Eddie Kenneally); Girl Named Charlie (Edgar Morales, Tom Amoss); Mission of Joy (Gaffalione, Motion); Mrs. Astor (John Velazquez, Jonathan Thomas); Papilio (IRE) (Castellano, Casse); and Sabalenka (Ricardo Santana Jr., Whit Beckman).
The Regret will be run four weeks in advance of the $225,000 Tepin Stakes at Churchill Downs.
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
GRADE II AMERICAN TURF WINNER WEBSLINGER RETURNS IN $225,000 AUDUBON STAKES – D. J. Stable’s 22-1 longshot winner of $500,000 American Turf (Grade II), Webslinger, drew the outside post No 7. for Saturday’s fourth running of the $225,000 Audubon Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.
Carded at 1 1/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course for 3-year-olds, the Audubon will go as the seventh race on Saturday’s card. The first of 11 races will get underway at 12:45 p.m. and the Audubon field is scheduled to go to post at 3:50 p.m.
Known as “Stephen Foster Preview Day”, the supporting stakes on Saturday’s agenda are the $225,000 Arlington (GIII), $225,000 Blame (GIII), $225,000 Regret (GIII), $225,000 Shawnee (GIII) and $225,000 Aristides (Listed).
Campaigned by Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Webslinger upset the field of 13 3-year-olds in the American Turf when he rallied from just off the early pace and defeated Far Bridge by a scant nose. The three-time winning son of Constitution will be ridden in the Audubon by Javier Castellano.
Here is the field for the Audubon from the rail out (with jockey and trainer): Lazarus (Walter Rodriguez, Waylon Cundiff); Mendelssohns March (Brian Hernandez Jr., Kenny McPeek); Scoobie Quando (Luan Machado, Ben Colebrook); J.P. Race (Joshua Morales, Cirilo Gorostieta); Desert Duke (Mitchell Murrill, Chris Hartman); Sharar (Luis Saez, Todd Pletcher); and Webslinger (Castellano, Casse).
Fans can watch and wager on all the action from Churchill Downs on www.TwinSpires.com, the official wagering provider of Churchill Downs Incorporated and the Kentucky Derby.
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