Kenny McPeek

In just a few weeks, champion Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil - Expo Gold, by Johannesburg) will sell at the Fasig-Tipton 'Night of the Stars' Sale. On an evening heralded for its abundant opportunity, her trip through the ring will be marked with anticipation for what is to come as she begins her broodmare career. But until then, there's just a bit of melancholy for her fans in looking back on her remarkable racing career. What was it, exactly, that made Swiss Skydiver so unforgettable? It could have been her extraordinary toughness...

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...

Peter J. Callahan's reigning Eclipse champion 3-year-old filly Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil--Expo Gold, by Johannesburg) will be offered at Fasig-Tipton's The November Sale, also known as the Night of the Stars, according to a press release from trainer Kenny McPeek. Runnymede Farm will serve as agent. Swiss Skydiver is currently out of training after finishing off the board in the Aug. 28 GI Personal Ensign S. "It's been an honor to train her over the last three years," said McPeek. "She's sound and healthy. Her owner, Peter Callahan, and I thought...

Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) is headed for the GI Whitney S. on Aug. 7, trainer Kenny McPeek said Wednesday. McPeek said that the EHV-1 quarantine that has affected his barn at Saratoga prompted him to reschedule his plans for Peter Callahan's 4-year-old filly, the winner of the 2020 Preakness against colts. She was originally scheduled to run in the GIII $200,000 Shuvee this Sunday and then the GI $600,000 Personal Ensign on Aug. 28, but the quarantine in his barn has prevented him from entering any horses at Saratoga. He said his...

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY - Four days short of two years after her death, Marylou Whitney managed to upstage Thursday's feel-good, season-opener at Saratoga Race Course. Pretty Birdie (Bird Song), bred and owned by Marylou Whitney Stables, struck just the right emotional note--bridging the past and the present--with her gate-to-wire victory in the 103rd running of the GIII Schuylerville S. "It's a little bittersweet. I wish she was here," Whitney's husband John Hendrickson said. "She would love this. Saratoga is open and she's won a race. Things are the way they...

Envoutante added to a big year for both her trainer and sire, turning in a dominant front-running performance under the Twin Spires Thursday. Wasting no time seizing the early advantage from her rail post, the dark bay doled out opening splits of :24.25 and :48.95. She shut the door on her competition heading for home, and cantered clear from there to assert her superiority. Odds-on Bonny South, who took the GII Fair Grounds Oaks earlier this term and was most recently second to Envoutante's stablemate Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the...

Nearly a thousand miles from Keeneland Race Course, a watch party in Houston, Texas is sure to be cheering just as emphatically as if they were in the grandstand. Residents of Camp Hope, a facility that provides support and mentoring to combat veterans suffering from the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress, will tune in on Friday to watch a juvenile colt named after the residential program. If Camp Hope (Summer Front) ends up in the winner's circle for the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile, his earnings will go back to the facility...

Trainer Kenny McPeek joins this week's TDN Writers' Room Podcast coming off an unforgettable weekend with two Grade I wins including one with filly Swiss Skydiver in the GI Preakness S.

The Week in Review, by Bill Finley Trainer Ken McPeek had set himself up for second guessing when he decided to run Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) in the GI Preakness S.. Not only would she have to face males, the Preakness would be her ninth race of the year and Pimlico would be the ninth track she has competed at in 2020. With a start in October, she would have raced during every month on the calendar but April. By modern standards, it has been a bruising schedule and one that...

Saturday's GI Alabama S. romper Swiss Skydiver (Daredevil) will contest the Sept. 4 GI Longines Kentucky Oaks, according to the New York Racing Association press department. Trainer Kenny McPeek indicated immediately after the Alabama that that would likely be the next spot for the Peter Callahan colorbearer, but hadn't at that time ruled out facing males in the GI Kentucky Derby. The GII Gulfstream Park Oaks, GIII Fantasy S. and GII Santa Anita Oaks winner and GII Toyota Blue Grass S. runner-up was doing well Sunday according to McPeek's assistant...

Longshot Drop Anchor (Anchor Down) started slowly but finished up strongly to become the first winner for his freshman sire (by Tapit) Sunday at Ellis Park. With just an abbreviated worktab on display, the grey was let go at 12-1 and was a bit sluggish from the blocks. He was shuffled back to last entering the turn, but got back into the bit to tug his way slightly closer heading for home. Guided very wide for the stretch drive, Drop Anchor shifted in sharply when switching leads but leveled off...

C&H Diamond Racing LLC & Baccari Racing Stable's Dream Quist (Nyquist) improved significantly on the stretch out at Ellis Sunday to become the first winner for her freshman sire (by Uncle Mo). A debut fifth as the favorite sprinting in the Churchill slop June 28, the $265,000 Fasig-Tipton October yearling was off as the 5-2 second choice this time but was bumped from both sides leaving the gate. She moved up in between horses to sit perched in third and tugged her way up to challenge the pacesetter heading for...