Hypnus, whose debut maiden route victory Jan. 18 produced a meaningfully higher Beyer Speed Figure (85) than the Lecomte Stakes the same day, will likely start Feb. 15 in the Risen Star, according to trainer Kenny McPeek. He said Hypnus exited his maiden win in good order and would probably work this weekend.
A week after the $500,000 Risen Star, McPeek has stakes action far from New Orleans and for a lot more money. Rattle N Roll, who breezed at Fair Grounds throughout December, aced his prep for the $20 million Saudi Cup, sharply winning the Group 3, $500,000 Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Cup on Saturday night in Riyadh.
Ridden by Joel Rosario, Rattle N Roll closed from the rear of a bulky field and won the 1,800-meter contest by 4 3/4 lengths, his first start since capturing the Clark on Nov. 29. Rattle N Roll shipped to Del Mar for the Breeders’ Cup Classic but was stuck on the also-eligible list and didn’t draw in.
“We’ve been sitting on him for a long time. We were confident he’d fire a big shot,” McPeek said. “He took to the racetrack quite well.”
McPeek said exercise rider Danny Ramsey and another key staff member, Francisco Serrano, traveled to Saudi Arabia and are expected to stay through the Saudi Cup.
On Saturday, Rosario wore the colors of Sharaf Mohammed Al Hariri, which will also be the case in the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup.
A year ago, Al Hariri made a lease agreement with owner Joe Peacock Jr. whereby Senor Buscador would run in his silks and name in the Saudi Cup, which he won, and in the Dubai World Cup. McPeek said the agreement with the Lucky Seven Stable follows similar lines, but that Al Hariri had also purchased an interest in Rattle N Roll and will remain part-owner when the horse returns to America.
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