Frank's Rockette Waltzes in Gallant Bloom

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' Frank's Rockette sailed home in the stretch to a hand-ridden victory against elders and notched a fourth straight win in the $145,500 Gallant Bloom Handicap (G2) Oct. 3 at Belmont Park.

Piloted by jockey Junior Alvarado, the sophomore daughter of Into Mischief  crossed the wire a 7 1/4-length winner in a time of 1:16.12 for 6 1/2 furlongs on the fast main track. 

Honor Way, who reared up at the start, rallied to finish second, three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Royal Charlotte. Bertranda and Pacific Gale completed the order of finish. Bronx Beauty was scratched.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Frank's Rockette arrived at the Gallant Bloom off victories in the July 4 Victory Ride Stakes (G3) at Belmont and the Sept. 5 Prioress Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. She has been made the favorite in all 10 of her starts and has never finished worse than second.

Mott, who conditioned 2000 Gallant Bloom winner Dream Supreme, said Frank's Rockette has matured throughout the year.

"The difference has been from this spring to now," Mott said. "She put on weight over the winter. We were in Florida and it seemed like she was light and not really carrying the weight I'd like to see, but we brought her up north. She was here in New York for a while and over June, July and August, she really filled out and put on some weight and looks great, and it's paying off right now."

Mott said Frank's Rockette, who was supplemented to the Gallant Bloom, could take things up a notch for the Nov. 7 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint (G1) at Keeneland.

"I'm sure we'll consider it, we just have to see," Mott said. "I have to talk to my owner. She's rating a little bit and seems to like it. With today's group, seven-eighths wouldn't be a problem, but the Breeders' Cup is a different story and a different group of horses. I'm proud of our filly, and I think we need to consider it, but we need to be realistic, too."

Returning $2.70 as the heavy favorite for a $2 win bet, Frank's Rockette enhanced her earnings to $606,103 while boasting a record of 10-6-4-0. 

Bred in Kentucky by her owner, Frank's Rockette is out of the Indian Charlie mare Rocket Twentyone, who captured the 2011 Arlington-Washington Lassie Stakes (G3) for Fletcher. She is one of three-black type runners from her dam from as many foals. The other two, Firewater Rocket and Rocknroll Rocket, were stakes-placed in minor events.