Restless Rider Raring to Go in Final Kentucky Oaks Work

Guiding Restless Rider down the Churchill Downs backstretch April 29, jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. looked as though he was sitting on top of a feisty gray powder keg. 

Getting ready to break off for her final work before the May 3 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1), the Distorted Humor  filly was feeling her oats and ready to work.  

"She was feeling good," said trainer Kenny McPeek. "We just wanted a little blowout, let her stretch her legs, and she did it well with no problem." 

Churchill clockers timed the solo four-furlong move in :49 3/5 ,with splits of :12, :23 4/5, and :36 3/5. The filly galloped out to five furlongs in 1:03 1/5. 

Owned by Fern Circle Stables and Three Chimenys Farm, Restless Rider made her 2019 debut in the April 6 Central Bank Ashland Stakes (G1) at Keeneland and finished second by a neck to fellow Oaks contender Out for a Spin. McPeek said Restless Rider will definitely have to up her game if she wants to take home the coveted garland of lilies. 

"I think this next race is going to be an improved race off her first race (of the year)," McPeek said. "She's going to need to do that to win, but she's ready to do that." 

Never worse than second in seven starts, Restless Rider broke her maiden at 2 beneath the historic Twin Spires before scoring her first stakes in the Debutante at the same track three weeks later. Shipping north to Saratoga Race Course, the filly finished second in the Sept. 1 Spinaway Stakes (G1) before returning to Kentucky to claim the Oct. 5 Darley Alcibiades Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. 

In her final two starts of 2018, she posted second-place finishes in November in the Tito's Handmade Vodka Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) and Golden Rod Stakes (G2), both at Churchill Downs. 

Hernandez Jr., who has been aboard for all of Restless Rider's starts, will once again have the call in the Oaks, breaking from the far outside post 14 in Friday's race. 

"I don't worry about what I can't control," said McPeek prior to Monday's draw, emphasizing the post position meant little to him. "I don't know if it's going to rain and I don't know what post I'll draw, but I got her ready—let her do the rest." 

Although he did not garner enough points to earn a spot in the May 4 Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), McPeek trainee Signalman galloped Monday morning over the Churchill Downs track. The General Quarters colt last worked April 27, breezing five furlongs in 1:00 flat. 

With a total of 38 points, Signalman currently sits in 22nd on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard and would require multiple defections to enter the field. 

"He's ready to go," McPeek said. "He had a little cut on his eye, hit his head on the stall and we stitched it up. It's not bothering him." 

For his part, McPeek said he was slightly disappointed that the 3-year-old, who finished third last out in the April 6 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G2) at Keeneland, will likely not make it into this year's first classic trial. 

"I think (the Kentucky Derby field) is wide open, " McPeek said. "That's one of the disappointing things about not getting Signalman in. I just think it's completely wide open. Maybe War of Will was really impressing me, I thought he was going to be unbeatable in Louisiana. Of course he ran poorly, but he's a really beautiful mover.

"Omaha Beach is a beautiful mover and obviously Game Winner, Bob is always going to fire a big shot. But it's a wide open season. I don't think it's going to be an easy race to pick a winner." 

Disappointment aside, McPeek said he couldn't help but be pleased to know that two Derby runners—Omaha Beach and Long Range Toddy—share a common link to his former charge and multiple grade 1 winner, Take Charge Lady. Named broodmare of the year in 2013, Take Charge Lady appears as the granddam of Kentucky Derby favorite Omaha Beach and dam of Take Charge Indy, the sire of Long Range Toddy. 

Campaigned by McPeek and owner Select Stable through 22 starts, Take Charge Lady earned grade 1 honors in the Ashland Stakes and back-to-back renewals of the Overbrook Spinster Stakes. She finished second for McPeek in the 2002 Kentucky Oaks and earned over $2.4 million in purses. 

"She was such a special filly to be around, and I would love to see her family have a Derby winner," McPeek said. "That would be unbelievable. Omaha Beach is really impressive out there. Long Range Toddy is certainly a good horse. She was just a really special filly to be around and now her female family just keeps popping up everywhere. She was queen of Keeneland. I'm really proud of her."