Signalman Breaks Through in Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Signalman wins the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs
Signalman had just put himself in position to put his form over the hump in the $200,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) when jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. noticed the son of General Quarters was in danger of getting sidetracked by his own handiwork.
"The funny thing was, from the sixteenth pole on home, he was looking at the TV screen," Hernandez said of his mount and the "Big Board" at Churchill Downs. "I was worried he wasn't paying attention to his job really and that something would nail him late."
The view of himself Signalman may or may not have been studying ended up worthy of admiration. After suffering a couple tough losses for trainer Ken McPeek in the Claiborne Breeders' Futurity (G1) and Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), the bay colt muscled his way into the winner's circle Nov. 24 when he held off Plus Que Parfait by a neck beneath the Twin Spires.
Earning 10 qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby, Signalman also validated his solid prior efforts against top-level company. After futilely chasing Knicks Go in the Breeders' Futurity, Signalman outran his 67-1 odds to get third in Breeders' Cup Juvenile, beaten 3 1/4 lengths by undefeated Game Winner.
The decision to wheel back in the Kentucky Jockey Club paid handsome dividends over the sealed, sloppy surface Saturday evening. As favored Knicks Go raced second behind Topper T through fractions of :23.12 and :46.83, Hernandez had Signalman saving ground in sixth before sneaking up the inside into third as they reached the far turn.
"The horse puts a lot of confidence in us," Hernandez said. "He's versatile. In the Breeders' Cup we were able to come from the 14 hole and take back and circle them. Today we were able to get him in the race, and he showed what he can do. I'm fortunate to have the horse under me that just kind of put us in every spot we needed."
Topper T reached the top of the stretch, with King for a Day coming for his advantage, and 14-1 shot Plus Que Parfait looked upset-minded when he got rolling down the middle of the track. However Hernandez got Signalman to kick on between horses, took over in the final furlong, and had enough stamina and focus to hold on for his first graded stakes victory.
"Physically, he's imposing—and he's been really solid for us to this point," McPeek said. "He ran five furlongs here in the spring (second at Churchill May 17) and that's pretty unheard of for a horse his size."
Signalman covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:45.29 at 7-2 odds. Limonite finished third behind Plus Que Parfait, while Knicks Go—runner-up in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile—faded to 11th in the 14-horse field.
Owned by Tommy Lewis, David Bernsen, and Magdalena Racing, Signalman has two wins from five starts with $448,990 in earnings. He was bred in Kentucky by Monticule, out of the Trippi mare Trip South, and was purchased for $32,000 by McPeek from Legacy Bloodstock's consignment to the 2017 Fasig-Tipton Fall Kentucky Yearling Sale.
"Even with the little quirks, he still shows a lot of promise," Hernandez said. "He'll be exciting down the road."