LEXINGTON, Ky. — Restless Rider gave trainer Kenny McPeek a fourth win in the $400,000 Alcibiades (G1) at Keeneland on Friday, but more importantly earned a berth in next month’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) in the “Win & You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge race before a Fall Meet opening day crowd of 15,334 on a sunny, humid afternoon.
“She’s really, really special,” McPeek said.
The 13-10 favorite in a field of 14, Restless Rider broke well and was never more than a couple lengths behind the pace-setting Meadow Dance, who cut out fractions of :22.86, :46.52, and 1:11.58. Under Brian Hernandez Jr., Restless Rider bid for the lead approaching the short stretch and opened up a 2 1/2-length margin at the wire.
Owned by Three Chimneys Farm and Fern Circle Stables, Restless Rider covered 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:44.23 and paid $4.60. Reflect, an 11-1 chance, overtook Meadow Dance late to finish second by 2 3/4 lengths.
Bred in Kentucky by Stonestreet, Restless Rider was a $150,000 Keeneland September yearling. She kicked off her career with a 2 3/4-length maiden win at Churchill Downs on June 8, then overcome having to check behind an injured foe in the $100,000 Debutante over the same track later that month, scoring by 11 1/4 lengths. Suffering her first setback in last month’s Spinaway (G1) when second by two lengths, Restless Rider increased her career earnings to $401,360 with this victory.
A gray by Distorted Humor, Restless Rider is out of Silky Serenade, an Unbridled’s Song half-sister to multiple Grade 2 winner Private Vow.
