McPeek's Daughter Plays Name Game With Butterbean
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Photo: Coady Photography
Butterbean wins the Iowa Oaks at Prairie Meadows
The first thing you notice about the 3-year-old filly trainer Kenny McPeek is running in the $500,000 Coaching Club American Oaks (G1) July 23 at Saratoga Race Course is the name.
Butterbean , a daughter of Klimt owned by Magdalena Racing and William Klimashousky, is the winner of the Iowa Oaks (G3).
There must be a story behind that name, right?
Oh, yes, there is.
"Everyone thinks she is named after Butterbean the boxer," McPeek said at his barn in Saratoga July 20.
Butterbean the horse is definitely not the namesake of Butterbean the bald-headed, behemoth pugilist with the red, white, and blue boxing trunks.
The idea for Butterbean's name was invented in the 6-year-old mind of McPeek's daughter Ann.
Trainer Kenny McPeek lifts up his daughter, Ann, to high five jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. after Tiz the Bomb's victory in the 2021 Bourbon Stakes at Keeneland
McPeek says he often lets his daughter and wife Sherri have at it in picking names for horses in his barn.
"I let them, and it depends on the partnerships," McPeek said. "Ann is actually pretty good at naming horses. She wanted to name Butterbean Cupcake, but Cupcake was taken."
Not to be deterred, young Ann went back to work and came up with the name associated with one of her favorite TV shows on the Nickelodeon network.
"She watches a show named Butterbean's Cafe," McPeek said.
So, there you have it.