By Alan Carasso
Well-supported at 39-10, Butterbean (Klimt) completed a most productive Saturday for the Ken McPeek barn, accelerating sharply three furlongs out before cruising home to a handy success in Saturday's GIII Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows.
A convincing 5 3/4-length winner of the local Oaks prep in the June 11 Panthers S. over a mile, the chestnut was dragged back to last and dropped down onto the fence to caboose the field through an opening couple of furlongs in a solid :23.50. Content to bide her time in the rear, Butterbean had one beaten entering the turn, but made eyecatching progress inside at the three-eighths pole. Tipped out under a full head of steam by Glenn Corbett, Butterbean raced up to odds-on Falconet (Uncle Mo) with a bit more than a furlong to travel and scampered clear to score impressively. Free Like a Girl (El Deal) made the running inside of Falconet and held gamely for third.
McPeek was also represented by GI Belmont Derby upsetter Classic Causeway (Giant's Causeway) and Runaway Wife (Gun Runner) and Silverleaf (Speightster), second and third, respectively, in the GIII Indiana Oaks.
Runner-up in auction-price-restricted maiden allowances at Churchill in October and November last year, Butterbean completed the exacta in an 'open' Gulfstream maiden Jan. 22, but was only sixth in a similar test at Keeneland Apr. 10. A neck second when in search of a confidence boost against $75,000 maiden claimers beneath the Twin Spires May 4, the $22,000 Keeneland September bargain graduated 23 days later and made it two straight when last seen in the Panthers.
Pedigree Notes:
The first graded winner for the expatriated Klimt, Butterbean is out of an unplaced half-sister to GSW Conquest Daddyo (Scat Daddy) and SW Hangingbyathread (Giant's Causeway). Her 2-year-old half-brother Fast Forward (Bolt d'Oro) is unplaced in a single start in Churchill maiden special weight company this past May and Letting Go produced a full-sister to Butterbean last season.
A really special day, Thank You!! To all those that support us, especially my staff and clients, none of this happens without them. Butterbean!!! Bargain buy. My daughter going nuts because she named her after this fairy. pic.twitter.com/dStSPg1H7l
— Kenny McPeek (@KennyMcPeek) July 10, 2022
Saturday, Prairie Meadows
IOWA OAKS-GIII, $225,000, Prairie Meadows, 7-9, 3yo, f, 1 1/16m, 1:43.72, ft.
1–BUTTERBEAN, 122, f, 3, by Klimt
1st Dam: Letting Go, by Johannesburg
2nd Dam: Hangingbyamoment, by Thunder Gulch
3rd Dam: Kermis, by Graustark
1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($22,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP).
O-Magdalena Racing & William Klimashousky; B-Woodgate
Farm (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Glenn W. Corbett.
$134,400. Lifetime Record: 8-3-4-0, $294,510. Werk Nick
Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Falconet, 122, f, 3, Uncle Mo–Birdatthewire, by Summer
Bird. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($250,000
Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-CHC Inc. & WinStar Farm LLC; B-WinStar
Farm, LLC (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher. $44,800.
3–Free Like a Girl, 122, f, 3, El Deal–Flashy Prize, by Flashy Bull.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($5,500 Ylg '20 ESLYRL). O-Gerald
Bruno, Jr., Carl J. Deville, Chasey Deville Pomier and Jerry
Caroom; B-Kim Renee Stover & Lisa Osborne (LA); T-Chasey
Deville Pomier. $22,400.
Margins: 3, 5, 1. Odds: 3.90, 0.70, 9.90.
Also Ran: Candy Raid, My Friend Amy, Hartley, Miss Hard Knocks, Nosilverspoonshere.
Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
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