Rattle N Roll to Make Second Start at 3 in LA Derby
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Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Rattle N Roll wins the 2021 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland
Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) winner Rattle N Roll , sixth in the March 5 Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park in his first start at 3, is likely to make his next start in the $1 million Twinspires.com Louisiana Derby (G2) March 26, trainer Kenny McPeek told TVG March 12.
McPeek told TVG's Andie Biancone the Connect colt needed the race in the Fountain of Youth, his first start in almost five months. He rated in eighth early in the 1 1/16-mile race, moved up down the backstretch, and weakened to finish 7 1/4 lengths behind victorious Simplification.
"Let's just say I could have trained him, trained him, and trained him and probably got a little better performance, but he needed to run," McPeek said. "There's nothing that replaces a race. I always feel like it moves them forward—it's better than two or three breezes."
McPeek said Rattle N Roll came out of the race in good condition, and the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots was appealing because the colt will get more distance. The 1 3/16-mile race is also a top-tier qualifying race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.
The Louisiana Derby distributes qualifying points on a 100-40-20-10 scale to its top four finishers. Rattle N Roll currently has 10 points.
Other graded-winning colts pointed for the Louisiana Derby include Epicenter (64 points) and Call Me Midnight (10 points).