Rattle N Roll rallied four wide to seize the lead in the stretch and then gamely held off Most Wanted 's attempt to fight back late to land a three-quarter-length victory in the $600,000 Grade 2 Clark Stakes presented by Norton Healthcare, a 1 1/8-mile test for 3-year-olds and older on Friday, Nov. 29 at Churchill Downs.

On a day when Churchill Downs celebrated Longines Kentucky Oaks winner Thorpedo Anna and her connections, the Clark Stakes delivered an appropriate result. Rattle N Roll races for the same connections behind Thorpedo Anna, trainer Ken McPeek and jockey Brian Hernandez Jr.. McPeek and Hernandez also teamed with this year's Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan.

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The Clark victory gives McPeek and Hernandez a sweep of three of Churchill's signature stakes races. The track noted that McPeek is the first trainer to accomplish that feat. The Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and Clark have been staged every year at Churchill Downs without interruption since 1875.

"It's been a lot of fun, that's why we do this," McPeek said of winning the day's featured race hours after Thorpedo Anna's season was celebrated in the paddock. "It's been a dream year here at Churchill. This is such a historic race like the Derby and Oaks, and very special to be able to sweep them this year."

Thorpedo Anna will be named champion 3-year-old filly of 2024 and is prominent in Horse of the Year consideration. McPeek, who figures to be considered for the Eclipse Award for outstanding trainer as well, added another big win.

The victory was especially satisfying considering the 5-year-old Rattle N Roll had to overcome a long layoff and a recent change career of plans. After a fourth-place finish in the 2023 Grade 2 Lukas Classic Stakes, Rattle N Roll was sidelined for the next 12 months because of distal bone bruising. He returned with a third-place finish in this year's Grade 2 Lukas Classic. McPeek saw enough to pre-enter in the $7 million Longines Breeders' Cup Classic and was shipped to Del Mar but did not draw into the race.

The team reset its sights, this time focused on the Clark Stakes.

In Friday's Clark, longshot Grand Aspen led the field of eight through early splits of :24.11, :49.15, and 1:13.04 as undefeated 3-year-old Most Wanted raced just off his hip. Meanwhile, Rattle N Roll was content to race covered up in fifth down the backstretch. Midway around the final turn, Most Wanted grabbed the lead, but Rattle N Roll tipped out four wide and drew even with three-sixteenths of a mile to run. The two matched strides in the stretch but it was Rattle N Roll who held on to the advantage for a game victory. He completed the race in 1:49.60 on a fast track.

Thorpedo Anna paraded in the Churchill Downs paddock Friday. (Eclipse Sportswire)

Hernandez is the second jockey to sweep the Oaks, Derby, and Clark in the same season, joining Hall of Famer Isaac Murphy who won the Derby and Clark with Buchanan and the Oaks with Modesty in 1884.

"Winning this race is such a testament to this horse. He's such a good horse," Hernandez said. "He was able to give us a perfect trip by naturally getting in a really good position early and finished the job late. He's such a talented horse to do what he's done over the years and just a special individual."

Favored Hit Show reached the wire third but was disqualified to fifth for interference in the stretch. That decision saw Uno Mas Bourbon placed third.

A Grade 1 winner at age 2, Rattle N Roll boasts eight career stakes wins and raised his career earnings surged past $2 million to $2,141,641.

Rattle N Roll will be considered for the $3 million Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes presented by Baccarat Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park ahead of a possible trip to the Middle East for the lucrative races there in the winter and spring.