Trainer Ken McPeek, who saddled Five D Thoroughbreds
and Wind River Stables’ Kathmanblu to win Fair Grounds’ Grade III
Rachel Alexandra Stakes Feb. 19 and Catesby Clay’s Rogue Romance to
run third in the Grade II Risen Star Stakes on the same day, indicated
Sunday morning that both the filly and the colt would be returning to New
Orleans to run back in the Grade II Fair Grounds Oaks and the Grade
II Louisiana Derby, respectively, on March 26.
“Everything is fine with both of them,” McPeek said Sunday
morning while speaking over the phone from South
Florida, “and we’re planning on coming back with both
of them.”
Prior to the Rachel Alexandra, Kathmanblu had won
Gulfstream’s $100,000 Sweetest Chant Stakes Jan. 22 in her 2011 debut, but
Rogue Romance had not raced since finishing third in the Grade I Breeders’
Cup Juvenile last Nov. 6 at Churchill Downs.
Nine years ago, McPeek saddled Select Stable’s Take
Charge Lady to win the Fair Grounds Oaks and that same ownership’s Repent
to capture the Louisiana Derby.
With the Louisiana Derby having its purse boosted to $1
million for its 98th running in less than five weeks, it will become the
richest Thoroughbred race ever run in New
Orleans.