Trainer Kenny McPeek hadn't planned on sending Rattle N Roll to run in the Pimlico Special Stakes (G3). Coming off of a win at the same 1 3/16-mile distance in Keeneland's Ben Ali Stakes (G3) and after a look at the probable starters for the race, he changed his mind.
Good thing he did.
Rattle N Roll surged from 10 lengths back to rein in Speed Bias by a nose in a scintillating conclusion to the $250,000 Pimlico Special at Pimlico Race Course May 19.
"It looked like this at a mile and three-sixteenths this isn't a race that we should probably pass, it looks like a race we should probably go for," McPeek said.
Early on, it might have looked like a regrettable decision as Rattle N Roll broke slow and with Flavien Prat in the irons, settled in on the inside, keeping well off the pace. Speed Bias, who was the fourth choice at post time, led nearly the entire race with fractional times of :23.56, :47.58, 1:10.77, and 1:35.61.
But coming out of the far turn, Prat swung four wide to challenge Luiz Saez and Speed Bias. Coming up the middle of the track, Rattle N Roll passed Keystone Field for second entering the final furlong.
Ranging alongside Speed Bias in deep stretch, Rattle N Roll edged his rival under the wire to secure the win in 1:54.72.
"To be honest, I thought I was going to open up turning for home," Prat said. "But that horse on the inside really dug in. It was a nice battle, and he ran a good race. I thought for a minute I took the lead and the other one just didn't want to quit. He really put his heart on the track. He was brave today."
From track level, it appeared Speed Bias had held on to win. But upon video review, it was clear the son of Connect had indeed claimed victory.
"When they showed (the video), I thought, 'OK, they got a better view than we did,'" said Speed Bias' trainer Ron Moquett.
McPeek said the plan going forward is to not take Rattle N Roll (7-1-2 from 17 starts) "off a two-turn regime for the world." The distance has become a sweet spot for Rattle N Roll, who now has two consecutive wins in three tries.
"It gives him that little extra sixteenth of a mile to get there, and he needed it today," McPeek said.
Rattle N Roll delivered $4.20 on a $2 win ticket. Speed Bias and Clapton rounded out the top three; Keystone Field faltered to fourth.
Bred by St. Simon Place and owned by Lucky Seven Stable, Rattle N Roll is out of the Johannesburg mare Jazz Tune. She has two starters and one winner from five foals.
Rattle N Roll had been sold twice, most recently at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale where McPeek, as agent, purchased him for $210,000 from the Paramount Sales consignment.