With the year that Kenny McPeek has had, it might have been a bit of an understatement when he said Monday, “We’ve had a lot of really nice horses in the system.”

They include, of course, Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan and Thorpedo Anna, winner of the Grade 1 Kentucky Oaks, the Breeders’ Cup Distaff and almost everything else she entered on her way to becoming a contender for horse of the year honors.

The pair contributed to McPeek’s $15 million in earnings so far this year, well above his previous high, and they led to a considerable uptick in his business. “No question.”

“Numbers-wise, it’s one of the most challenging periods of my career, while being very exciting at the same time,” McPeek said while driving from his Lexington farm with his dog, Sonny. “We’re going to probably make more starts this year than we may ever have made, and next year, I suspect we’ll probably make more than that.”

For the record, McPeek has had 574 starts this year, the most of his career except for last year, when he had 655.

And although he couldn’t provide an exact figure for how many horses he has in training, McPeek said he has “40 at Oaklawn, 36 at Fair Grounds, 15 at Gulfstream, and I’ve still got horses at Keeneland and Churchill.”

“Let’s just say we’re very busy.”

As for Mystik Dan, he’s been “in a nice breeze routine. He’s been in a Saturday schedule, and right now it looks like he may be pointed towards the Malibu.”

The Grade 1 sprint on Dec. 26 is sooner than McPeek expected when the Goldencents colt resumed training in October. He had been off since finishing eighth in the Belmont Stakes.

“He’s thrived, and it gives us another month before there’s that race, almost five weeks. And we think, we think the timing is good, and at this point, we’re going to plan on getting ready at the Fair Grounds and ship him west at some point.”

Thorpedo Anna, meanwhile, is in the midst of a break after her Distaff win, which capped a year with six wins from seven starts.

“Thorpedo Anna came out of the Breeders’ Cup in good order,” McPeek said. “We sent her over to (veterinarian) Larry Bramlage for just a basic checkup, just to have him go over her for good measure. And we had already intended on giving her 60 days, and that’s what she’s in the process of getting. She should go back in training the first week in January.”

McPeek discussed other stakes runners for Horse Racing Nation’s Barn Tour series.

3-year-olds and up

Rattle N Roll is entered in Friday’s Clark (G2) at Churchill Downs. The 5-year-old son of Connect returned from a year layoff to finish third in the Lukas Classic (G2) on Sept. 28. He was the first also-eligible for the Breeders’ Cup Classic but did not draw in. “We’re excited about this weekend with him, Friday, to be the second start off a layoff. But that horse, lovely horse to be around. And he’s probably trained as well as he’s ever in his life this past fall.”

Missing the Breeders’ Cup Classic was a disappointment, McPeek said. “We really felt like he’d run well. It looked like the pace set up really well for a horse like him, his running style, so it was kind of a missed opportunity. But we knew we were on the outside looking in when we went out there.”

McPeek entered four in Tuesday stakes at Zia Park but Generous Tipper will be scratched form the Zia Park Derby. “There’s a high-level interest in buying him,” McPeek said, and “that conflicted with him traveling.”

This 3-year-old Street Sense colt took almost a year off after finishing third in last year’s Breeders’ Futurity (G1). He returned in September with a loss and then won two straight, including the Discovery Stakes at Aqueduct last out.

V V’s Dream is entered in the Zia Park Oaks. “I think it’s a good spot to finish the year with her.”

The 3-year-old Mitole filly is 0-for-4 this year, with three of her starts coming in graded stakes, including a last-out fourth in the Raven Run (G2). Her last two works have been good for bullets at Oaklawn and Churchill Downs, both going four furlongs in 47.6 seconds.

Under the Palms also is entered in the Zia Park Oaks. The 3-year-old Enticed filly won the Cardinal Handicap at Horseshoe Indianapolis two back and was sixth last out in an optional-claiming allowance at Churchill Downs. Her most recent work was a bullet four furlongs in 47.6 seconds at Oaklawn on Wednesday. She’s “always been really solid. She’ll need to probably step up another level, but she’s done well. Another straight 3-year-old filly race that I thought was suitable.”

Denington is entered in the Zia Park Championship Stakes. The 4-year-old Gun Runner gelding will have his first start since May after finishing fourth in each of three starts this spring. He had been entered in an allowance race at Churchill, McPeek said, “and the race didn’t fill and we chose this as a backup.”

2-year-olds

McPeek has more 2-year-olds than normal, but again couldn’t provide a precise figure. “I don’t know. If I counted, I might get nervous.”

“Our 2-year-old crop’s really been slow to come around this year,” he said. “We’ve still got some nice ones that have run well, but I’ve got some that are on the shelf right now, that just haven’t for one reason or another, just haven’t been ready and that you’re going to see even as 3-year-olds start to surface.”

One of those juveniles who has run well is Render Judgment, entered in Saturday’s Kentucky Jockey Club (G2). The Blame colt broke his maiden Oct. 27 going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs after finishing second in his debut at Keeneland.

“This is a horse we’re really excited about,” McPeek said. “I think he’s going to relish the mile and an eighth, mile and a quarter or mile and a half distances in the coming spring. He extra trains like a real professional and runs like a professional. And I think that’s a good next spot.”

McPeek won the race with Smile Happy in 2021, Signalman in 2018 and Repent in 2001.

“This is a good spot for him. And as we all know, the young horses are constantly developing, but he’s one that we think is going the right way.”

McPeek also is optimistic about Golden Gamble, a Laoban filly who broke her maiden Saturday in her second start with a nine-length win going 1 1/16 miles at Churchill. “She acts like she very easily could take us back to the Oaks.”