Ken McPeek

In this corner comes 'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief), a filly by one of the world's hottest and most fashionable sires who was purchased for a seven-figure price tag at public auction and has whitewashed Grade I rivals by a combined 25 3/4 lengths in her last two starts. Sharing space in the other corner is Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil), a much more modest auction purchase, who is perfect in her last four against her own sex; and Speech (Mr Speaker), not quite as accomplished as her two chief rivals,...

P. G. JOHNSON S., $93,000, Saratoga, 9-3, 2yo, f, 7f (off turf), 1:21.85, ft. 1--SIMPLY RAVISHING, 122, f, 2, by Laoban 1st Dam: Four Wishes, by More Than Ready 2nd Dam: Emilyna, by Valid Wager 3rd Dam: Piano Affect, by Fappiano ($50,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT). 1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. O-Harold Lerner LLC, Magdalena Racing (Sherri McPeek) & Nehoc Stables; B-Meg Levy (NY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek; J-Luis Saez. $55,000. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $94,600. *First SW for freshman sire (by Uncle Mo). 2--Con Lima, 120, f, 2, Commissioner--Second Street City, by Consolidator. ($15,000...

7th-CD, $97K, Msw, 2yo, 1 1/16m, 4:16 p.m. ET KING FURY (Curlin), the first and only foal out of the late Grade I winner Taris (Flatter), makes his debut in this two-turn affair. King Fury brought $950,000 from Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm as a FTSAUG yearling and is trained by Ken McPeek. 'TDN Rising Star' Taris, a $90,000 KEESEP yearling turned $2.35 million FTKNOV horse of racing age, concluded her career with a runaway win for Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor, and Derrick Smith in the...

Louis Wright's Inject (Frosted), who turned in an eye-opening performance in her career debut at Ellis to earn TDN Rising Star status, will try and punch her ticket to the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies with a victory in Thursday's GIII Pocahontas S. at Churchill Downs. Let go at 7-1 for that five-furlong unveiling Aug. 15, the daughter of first-season son of Tapit came from just off the pace to win by a widening six-length margin at the wire. The $390,000 KEESEP yearling purchase is a half-sister to GI Belmont...

Joe Talamo, recently relocated from the West Coast, won his first jockey's title on the Kentucky circuit after riding 20 winners at Ellis Park's Runhappy Summer meet which concluded Sunday. "It feels really good," said Talamo, who won a race both Saturday and Sunday to pull out of a tie with Rafael Bejarano. "Obviously Bejarano didn't ride the last couple of weeks, so that definitely helped quite a bit, in all honestly. But more than anything, I was just really happy that we got into some nice barns and outfits...

'TDN Rising Star' Gamine (Into Mischief), the ultra-impressive winner of the one-mile GI Longines Acorn S. and seven-furlong GI Longines Test S. in her two most recent appearances, drew gate five and was installed as the even-money favorite on Mike Battaglia's morning line for Friday's GI Longines Kentucky Oaks at Churchill Downs. Owned by Michael Lund Petersen, the $220,000 Keeneland September yearling turned $1.8-million Fasig-Tipton Midlantic 2-Year-Olds in Training topper is likely to be hard sent by John Velazquez in what will be her second go around two turns. She...

A week after GI Kentucky Oaks contender Gamine (Into Mischief) romped home in the GI Test S., fellow sophomore filly standout Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) produced a jaw-dropping victory of her own with an effortless victory in the GI Alabama S.--a Win and You're In race for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff--Saturday at Saratoga. "She's just really special," said winning trainer Ken McPeek. "Every time we take here over there, she does what you ask her to. She seems to be getting bigger and stronger as the year goes. She's...

On paper, Peter Callahan's Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) appears to tower over six others in Saratoga's GI Alabama S., a Breeders' Cup 'Win and You're In"  event for the $2-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Distaff. The chestnut reeled off consecutive wins the GII Gulfstream Park Oaks Mar. 28 and the May 12 GIII Fantasy S. at Oaklawn Park before a front-running, four-length win in the GII Santa Anita Oaks June 6. Facing the lions in the GII Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland July 11, the lioness offered a roar of...

Since the last edition of the TDN's Kentucky Oaks Top 10, the question has become, "How good is Gamine?" The daughter of Into Mischief followed up her explosive win in the GI Longines Acorn S. with another stellar effort in the GI Longines Test S., which she won geared down and by seven lengths over the talented Venetian Harbor (Munnings). After the defeat, Venetian Harbor part-owner Domenic Savides said it's unlikely she will contest the Oaks. That leaves three horses, Gamine, Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and Speech (Mr. Speaker), heading the...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.--With a pair of contenders, trainer Kenny McPeek said he is looking at Saturday's GI Alabama S. more as an important prize than a steppingstone to one or both of the marquee races at Churchill Downs on the first weekend of September. McPeek plans to run Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) and Envoutante (Uncle Mo) in the 140th Alabama and expects they will both move on to the GI Kentucky Oaks Sept. 4. It is still possible, McPeek said, he might try Swiss Skydiver in the GI Kentucky Derby, but...

Crazy Beautiful (Liam's Map) worked her way out of a tough spot in the lane to blow away the field in Sunday's Runhappy Debutante S. at Ellis and earn the 'TDN Rising Star' nod. The grey was one of now three good-looking debut winners for Ken McPeek so far this meet when she ran to 19-10 favoritism going long on the lawn July 5, and she was the public's tepid pick in this full field to handle a different surface and sharper trip. Sluggish at the start and ridden along...

1st-Saratoga, $72,000, Msw, 8-2, 2yo, f, 1 1/16mT, 1:44.76, fm. SIMPLY RAVISHING (f, 2, Laoban--Four Wishes, by More Than Ready), looking to become her freshman sire Laoban's (Uncle Mo) second career winner, stalked a moderate early pace set by Uyuni (Uncle Mo) before taking command in the stretch and rolling home a one-length winner over the slow-closing favorite Mrs Frankel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}). The $50,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling purchase went off the longest shot in the field at 14-1. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Lifetime...