Restless Rider scores Grade 1 in Alcibiades at Keeneland

Second at the top level last time out, Restless Rider ran one better Friday when she drew off in Keeneland’s Grade 1, $400,000 Darley Alcibiades Stakes. The win also secured her place in the Nov. 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1), part of the “Future Stars Friday” card at Churchill Downs.

The victory improved Restless Rider’s resume to three wins in four starts, with her only defeat a second-place run in the Spinaway Stakes (G1). The Alcibiades was her first two-turn test at 1 1/16 miles, and the fourth edition won by trainer Kenny McPeek.

“It hasn’t been as easy as it might look on paper and what she did today,” McPeek said. “It wasn’t an exact straight line since the Spinaway (G1), but we got through it.

“(With) the weather changing here, there’s been a lot of horses that have been dealing with coughs here and there. She got one of them, and we were worried a little bit. But we kept on top of it. We have a great team. It’s a great team effort, and she is special.”

Restless Rider sat in third under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. while Meadow Dance led the way over Lady T N T. The fractions went in 22.86, 46.52 and 1:11.58. Lady T N T faded fast while Meadow Dance tried to hang tight, but Restless Rider made an easy sweep around the final turn and took over.

Reflect came from mid-pack to catch second while Meadow Dance held for third. Chocolate Kisses, breaking from post 13, rallied from far back to catch fourth. The final time was 1:44.23.

“Kenny came up with a great game plan just to get her around the first turn in good order,” Hernandez said. “Luckily we have a good filly that was able to do everything we needed her to do. Once we got in our position going around the first turn, I was pretty confident in her because she’s something special.”

The Alcibiades drew a full field of 14, and Restless Rider ran into no traffic problems with her position.

“She’s a smart filly,” Hernandez continued. “She knows what she’s doing out there. First time two turns, but there looked like quite a few fast fillies in here. She’s the type of filly where she’s got the class to her and she was able to put herself into position to make the trip as easy as it looked.”

Restless Rider is a Stonestreet-bred daughter of Distorted Humor. Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimneys Farm partnered at the 2017 Keeneland September Sale and went to $150,000 for her, which paid off with her breaking her maiden on debut and winning the Debutante Stakes. Her earnings are now at $401,360 with the Breeders’ Cup less than a month away.