You Leave Kenny Alone...he's gotta have that Royal Ascot Chicken!

[RolloTomasi]

I don't know...McPeek trains a pretty mean bird!"

or

What...Mr. Marbles McPeek? He's harmless!

or

Classic Causeway Among 6 Grade/Group 1 winners in the Prince of Wales’

Well, we’ve certainly come a long way since Rick’s Natural Star:

Belmont Derby winner Classic Causeway is the sole runner trained outside Britain and Ireland in the field and is on course to have his first start in Europe for Kentucky trainer Kenneth McPeek.

Shocked to see this after Classic Causeway’s ho-hum effort in the Grade 3 Arlington…and when I say “shocked” I’m talking electroshock therapy (without the wooden spoon) which is what McPeek should be treated with for whatever is affecting his brain.

I guess it’s debatable whether or not they would be directly treating his brain if they put the paddles on either side of his head…he might keep his brain in a DEWALT Tool Box or something. Emphasis on the “tool”…

In the Arlington, Classic Causeway finished behind Set Piece, who ironically never won on turf in Europe despite starting his career there. Set Piece did run a good 14th in the 2000 Guineas years ago so there is some comparable form at least…

Electroshock therapy aside, the decision to send the horse became a no-brainer (that’s not a pun since there’s never a brain involved when it comes to McPeek & European racing) when Derby hero Desert Crown got hurt again. Plus the mighty Emily Upjohn is opting to wait for the Eclipse Stakes.

Now only if archrival Bolshoi Ballet, the only other 100-1 shot in the field, would defect we may get to see McPeek & his trusty top hat (likely purchased from Bob Sacamano in Central Park?) in the winner’s circle rubbing elbows with the Queen Consort.

When it is all said & done, you’ll never guess what the ultimate cause of this ridiculous turn of events was?

That’s right, Todd Pletcher & his continual mismanagement of anti-inflammatory medication.

Last year, before Classic Causeway won the Belmont Derby--which essentially punched his ticket to all international top class racing—the Pletcher-trained Emmanuel was entered to race. He was generally considered to be the main speed of the race, and was a near certainty to keep Classic Causeway from stealing the race…which is exactly what the McPeek colt ended up doing.

Why is that Pletcher’s fault? Well, Emmanuel had to be scratched by the Stewards because Pletcher failed to follow the rules for $1 million races in NY & had the horse treated with too many anti-inflammatory drugs the week of the race…So for all intents & purposes, McPeek owes this horse's Grade 1 win to Pletcher.

Still, to look on the bright side, we’ve entered the era of advanced equine safety in the face of outside threats to horse racing’s social license.

Over in Australia, they implemented compulsory CT scans for all foreign runners in their big races (Cox Plate, Melbourne Cup).

Who knows? Maybe on the strength of this example set by McPeek, the BHA will nowstart requiring PET and/or CT scans of all foreign trainers’ brains…

At any rate, I just want to see this:

McPeek coming out of the Royal john in top hat & tails (toilet flushing in background):

"Nice place you got here, Charles! A man can really get some thinking done!"