Triple Crown Tracker: Nest, Rattle N Roll win; stars target Travers
Rattle N Roll shined under the lights Saturday night at Fanduel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, romping by 4 1/2 lengths in the St. Louis Derby. Well settled early, he sustained a rally down the backstretch and through the far turn, drawing off to win emphatically. It was the Kenny McPeek trainee's second win in his last three starts; he also won the American Derby on July 2, though finished seventh in the Indiana Derby on July 9 after clipping heels at the start.
Pioneer of Medina made his first start since the Kentucky Derby on Tuesday, lining up for the Smarty Jones (G3) at Parx. The race is the local prep for the Pennsylvania Derby (G1) on Sept. 24. The Todd Pletcher trainee tracked midfield through the early stages, but weakened through the far turn and trailed home last of the eight, 18 lengths behind winner Best Actor.
The top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby will clash on Saturday in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga. Rich Strike, Epicenter and Zandon are all at Saratoga making their final preparations for the Midsummer Derby. Cyberknife, 18th in the Run for the Roses but a winner of both the Matt Winn (G3) and the Haskell (G1) since, will join them.
Charge It, a 23-length winner of the Dwyer (G3) in his last start, was slated to join them. However, he missed a workout over the weekend due to an abscess in his foot and will not make the Travers. Trainer Todd Pletcher is considering the Pennsylvania Derby for his next start, though that will depend on how his foot heals.
| Derby | Horse | Last Race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rich Strike | 6th, Belmont Stakes (G1) | Entered in Travers (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga |
| 2 | Epicenter | 1st, Jim Dandy (G2) | Entered in Travers (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga |
| 3 | Zandon | 2nd, Jim Dandy (G2) | Entered in Travers (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga |
| 4 | Simplification | 3rd, West Virginia Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| 5 | Mo Donegal | 1st, Belmont Stakes (G1) | Sidelined with bone bruising |
| 6 | Barber Road | 7th, Belmont Stakes (G1) | No works since last race |
| 7 | Tawny Port | 3rd, Jim Dandy (G2) | Worked 4f Aug. 20 at Churchill Downs |
| 8 | Smile Happy | 8th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 9 | Tiz the Bomb | 4th, National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (G2) | No works since last race |
| 10 | Zozos | 10th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 11 | Classic Causeway | 3rd, Saratoga Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 12 | Taiba | 2nd, Haskell Invitational (G1) | Worked 6f Aug. 20 at Del Mar |
| 13 | Crown Pride (JPN) | 13th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| 14 | Happy Jack | 3rd, Allowance Optional Claiming (July 24, ELP) | Worked 5f Aug. 20 at Keeneland |
| 15 | Messier | 15th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | Worked 4f June 18 at Santa Anita |
| 16 | White Abarrio | 7th, Haskell Invitational (G1) | Worked 4f Aug. 21 at Saratoga |
| 17 | Charge It | 1st, Dwyer S. (G3) | Worked 5f Aug. 13 at Saratoga |
| 18 | Cyberknife | 1st, Haskell Invitational (G1) | Entered in Travers (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga |
| 19 | Pioneer of Medina | 8th, Smarty Jones (G3) | No works since last race |
| 20 | Summer Is Tomorrow | 20th, Kentucky Derby (G1) | No works since last race |
| SCR | Ethereal Road | 9th, Saratoga Derby (G1) | Worked 4f Aug. 15 at Saratoga |
| SCR | Rattle N Roll | 1st, St. Louis Derby | No works since last race |
Secret Oath faced fellow Triple Crown alumna Nest in the Alabama (G1) on Saturday. Though the margin was not as wide as it was in the Coaching Club American Oaks (G1), the result was familiar. Secret Oath rallied from midpack for second, but could not get up to catch Nest, who cruised home to win by 4 1/2 lengths.
Tuesday afternoon, Creative Minister raced in the Smarty Jones at Parx. Sent off the favorite in the eight-horse field, he settled toward the rear early. The Kenny McPeek charge chased on with some interest in the lane and got up just in time for the show, though still crossed the finish line 7 3/4 lengths adrift of Best Actor.
Preakness winner Early Voting worked over the weekend at Saratoga. It was his final drill before a planned start on Saturday in the Travers, where he will face both Epicenter and Zandon, two of the three horses who finished ahead of him in the Jim Dandy (G2).
| Preakness | Horse | Last Race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Early Voting | 4th, Jim Dandy (G2) | Entered in Travers (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga |
| 2 | Epicenter | 1st, Jim Dandy (G2) | Entered in Travers (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga |
| 3 | Creative Minister | 3rd, Smarty Jones (G3) | No works since last race |
| 4 | Secret Oath | 2nd, Alabama (G1) | No works since last race |
| 5 | Skippylongstocking | 1st, West Virginia Derby (G3) | Worked 3f Aug. 21 at Saratoga |
| 6 | Simplification | 3rd, West Virginia Derby (G3) | No works since last race |
| 7 | Armagnac | 4th, La Jolla Handicap (G3) | Worked 4f Aug. 18 at Los Alamitos |
| 8 | Happy Jack | 3rd, Allowance Optional Claiming (July 24, ELP) | Worked 5f Aug. 20 at Keeneland |
| 9 | Fenwick | 4th, Allowance (Aug. 5, ELP) | Worked 4f Aug. 19 at Churchill Downs |
Nest reasserted herself at the top of her crop of 3-year-old dirt route fillies, cruising home to win the 1 1/4-mile Alabama in dominant fashion over Secret Oath, the horse who beat her in the Kentucky Oaks (G1). It was Nest's second straight impressive Grade 1 victory at Saratoga.
| Belmont | Horse | Last Race | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mo Donegal | 1st, Belmont (G1) | Sidelined with bone bruising |
| 2 | Nest | 1st, Alabama (G1) | No works since last race |
| 3 | Skippylongstocking | 1st, West Virginia Derby (G3) | Worked 3f Aug. 21 at Saratoga |
| 4 | We the People | 2nd, West Virginia Derby (G3) | Worked 4f Aug. 20 at WinStar Training Center |
| 5 | Creative Minister | 3rd, Smarty Jones (G3) | No works since last race |
| 6 | Rich Strike | 6th, Belmont (G1) | Entered in Travers (G1) Aug. 27 at Saratoga |
| 7 | Barber Road | 7th, Belmont (G1) | No works since last race |
| 8 | Golden Glider | 6th, Curlin S. | No works since last race |