Simply Ravishing Simply Best in Alcibiades

For just the second time since he began training in 1985, Kenny McPeek ran more than one filly in the Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) Oct. 2 at Keeneland.

The limited number of people in attendance amid COVID-19 for the $350,000 race on Friday afternoon understood why. Two of his three entrants, Simply Ravishing and Crazy Beautiful, raced 1-2 virtually from start to finish, while McPeek's other starter, Oliviaofthedesert, was fifth.

It was the trainer's fifth victory in the prestigious 1 1/16-mile race for 2-year-old fillies, second-most behind Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas with six.

"I told him a long time ago I was going to win more Alcibiades than him," McPeek said of their friendly banter. "He's 27 years older than me. I got plenty of time."

Simply Ravishing ($6.40) never gave McPeek any anxious moments as the trainer watched from Maryland, where he is preparing to run Swiss Skydiver in the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course.

She sprang to the lead under Luis Saez, set an uncontested pace of :48.59 and 1:12.94, and left her six rivals far behind in the stretch. She drew off by 6 1/4 lengths over narrow 2-1 favorite Crazy Beautiful, completing the distance on a fast track in 1:43.58. 

"I felt like I had a lot of horse all the way," Saez said. "When we came to the straight, she just took off. She did it pretty easy, like normal. Like nothing. It was amazing. She's a very good filly."

Travel Column, away last, settled for third, 1 1/4 lengths behind the runner-up, after making a bid to challenge in early stretch. Her rally flattened out over the final furlong.

Adirondack Stakes (G2) winner Thoughtfully ran fourth and was followed by Oliviaofthedesert, Xtrema, and Gramercy.

The winner's time was the fastest in this race on dirt since champion Silverbulletday sped the distance in a stakes-record 1:42.24 in 1998. The Bob Baffert trainee proceeded to win the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) that fall, a repeat McPeek aims to accomplish this year. 

With the Alcibiades a Breeders' Cup Challenge qualifier, New York-bred Simply Ravishing earned an automatic, paid berth into the Nov. 6 Juvenile Fillies at Keeneland, where she could be joined by Crazy Beautiful. McPeek said he was inclined to run both fillies there, though he joked he might take advantage of a restricted state-bred program instead with Simply Ravishing.

"We feel like we could corner the New York-bred money when we get her back up there," he said with a laugh. "Finger Lakes has got a spot. I got it picked out already."

This fall, McPeek will look to score his first Breeders' Cup victory, reversing a frustrating history of six runner-up finishes and 10 thirds from 31 starters. In the Juvenile Fillies, McPeek came closest in 2008, 2009, and 2018 with second-place finishers Dream Empress, Beautician, and Restless Rider, respectively.

Few can match the trainer's record in the Alcibiades, where he is 5-for-23 with 11 other starters hitting the board. His other winners were She's a Devil Due (2000), Take Charge Lady (2001), Dream Empress (2008), and Restless Rider (2018). 

A bargain $50,000 purchase by McPeek, acting as agent, from the Bluewater Sales consignment at last year's Fasig-Tipton Kentucky October Yearlings Sale in Lexington, Simply Ravishing has already made $304,600 in winning all three of her starts. Before the Alcibiades, she won a grass maiden route and an off-the-turf P. G. Johnson Stakes, both at Saratoga Race Course. 

Harold Lerner owns her with Sherri McPeek's Magdalena Racing and Nehoc Stables. 

She is the lone starter from three foals out of the More Than Ready mare Four Wishes, who was unplaced in five starts. On Friday, she became the first graded stakes winner for first-crop stallion Laoban, who stands for $5,000 at Sequel Stallions in Hudson, N. Y.