McPeek Plots Course for Atigun, Unstoppable U

Trainer Ken McPeek was pleased with the performances of his two long-shot runners Saturday in the Belmont Stakes and already has begun plotting ambitious plans for them.

Magdalena Racing and Mojallali Stables’ Unstoppable U made noise in the 1 ½-mile race early before tiring to finish sixth, and Shortleaf Stable’s Atigun rallied from mid-pack to finish a close-up third, just 1 ¾ lengths behind winner Union Rags and runner-up Paynter.

At 12-1 for Unstoppable U and 20-1 for Atigun, both outran their odds.

“Our horses came out of the race fine,” McPeek said on Sunday. “We asked a lot out of Unstoppable U,” who tracked the pace of Paynter for a mile in only the third start of his career. “He ran a great race. We'll look for a Grade 2 or Grade 3 for him, [or] possibly the Haskell.”

Atigun, McPeek said, is headed for Saratoga Race Course this summer.

“Atigun came out fine, too,” he said. “We’ll probably go to the Jim Dandy and the ultimate goal will be the Travers.”