Ken McPeek | Sarah Andrews
Home to at most three start GI Kentucky Derby in his stable, coach Kenny McPeek joins TDN Writers’ Room Presented by Keeneland as if Green Team Guest of the Week Tuesday to discuss the dirty prospects of Tiz the Bomb (Hit It a Bomb) and a potential summer campaign in Europe, his plans for the GI Toyota Blue Grass S. favorite Smile Happy (Runhappy) to run in all three Triple Crown races, his thoughts on continuing the Lasix elimination in American racing and beyond.
Tiz the Bomb, a double bet winner and runner-up of the GI Breeders’ Cup Minor in second place, returned from seventh place in GIII Holy Bull S. to Louisville after being weighed. Reminder begins at Newmarket on April 30 G1 2000 Guineas.
“When we ran him in Florida, the foal failed to handle the Gulfstream surface and the recoil,” McPeek said. “That surface is a little bit different, it’s deep, there’s a lot of sand and he doesn’t follow it. I sent him to Turfway to regain his confidence in [John] Battaglia and that worked. So the natural next step was Jeff Ruby and he punched, and ran a super race. I really feel he would be a great horse to take over at the 2000 Guineas, and beating Newmarket isn’t harder or actually could be easier than his win at the Kentucky Downs. [in the Kentucky Downs Mile S.]. But due to some logistical and technical problems, he won’t go, and our next pick is a grass race at Churchill or the Kentucky Derby. I really think at this point the horse probably deserves a chance.”
As for Smile Happy, a Derby contender is sure to have a second start as a 3-year-old in Blue Grass on Saturday following a runner-up attempt in GII Risen Star S., McPeek said, This is a really special colt. I’ve been sitting on this horse like a barrel of dynamite for months now. I don’t want to have more than two prep for the Kentucky Derby. I think [Derby qualifying] the points he gets in Louisiana will be more likely to get him in. Obviously I’d like to see him run well on Blue Grass, and as a Lexington boy, it’s fun to win Blue Grass. I don’t want to over race this horse this winter. I actually sat on him for a reason, because I think he’s the horse that can handle the progress of Derby, Preakness and Belmont. And you have to have some juice in the tank for those races. If you’re already a bit tired or you’re overpowered for those three races, it’s clear your horse will be taxed. But he can set up very well for that. ”
Elsewhere in the show, also sponsored by Coolmorethe Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association, XBTV, Purebred West Point and Legacy Bloodstockthe authors reacted with bravery but loss of form to Secret Oath (Arrogate) during the GI Arkansas Derby, the beginning of Bob Baffert’s 90-day suspension, and the latest wackiness surrounding the coach. banned Wayne Potts. Click here to watch podcasts; Click here for the audio-only version or find it on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
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This story was posted in Top News and tagged Bob Baffert, Ken McPeek, Kenny McPeek, Kentucky Derby, Secret Vow, Happy smile, TDN Podcasts, TDN . Writers’ Office, Tiz the Bomb, Wayne Potts.
