Kentucky Derby 2019 Radar: McPeek may add third on the trail
Trainer Kenny McPeek has final 2019 Kentucky Derby prep plans set for his main contenders, Signalman and Harvey Wallbanger. As of Sunday, there’s another to watch from his barn, too.
McPeek told Oaklawn Park publicity that Lemniscate, a son of Exchange Rate who broke his maiden in Gulfstream Park’s ninth race, is under consideration to try the Rebel Stakes (G2) on March 16 in Arkansas.
Lemniscate skipped over the turf, setting all the fractions while clocking a final time of 1:43.38 for 1 1/16 miles. It marked the Susan Moulton and Magdalena Racing charge’s first try around two turns after he was fourth on debt (Jan. 19) and a runner-up second out (Feb. 9), both times going six furlongs on Gulfstream’s main track.
So, why the turf? McPeek told TVG that Lemniscate was entered for a Florida-bred race on Saturday at seven furlongs that didn’t go.
“We had a loaded gun and nothing to do with him,” the trainer said. “The condition book said there wasn’t anything until the 23rd of March, and there wasn’t anything else until the 30th of March. I called Susan, the owner, and I said, ‘It’s crazy, but I’m going to go ahead and run him a mile and a sixteenth on turf. I think he’ll win anyway.’
“Of course I stuck my neck out and I was right for once.”
Lemniscate cost $145,000 at auction as a yearling.
By General Quarters, Signalman had never been worse than third in five career starts entering the weekend. He ran evenly at Gulfstream Park, never much getting involved near the front.
“Well, I think I undercooked him for the race, for one,” McPeek told TVG. “I’ll take the bullet on that. He also came back and lost a shoe in the race. He needed a stronger work pattern into that.”
Signalman’s first racetrack breeze of the year went in a snappy 46.83 seconds for four furlongs back on Feb. 2.
“It jammed him up a little bit, and I had to back off and kind of adjust a little bit,” McPeek added. “I think I might have been a little soft on him. I still believe the race is one step of many, and he did proceed on out. He has no quit in him, and I think the next race you’ll see him bounce back.”