Lady Rocket Outruns Sconsin in Chicago Stakes
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Photo: Coady Photography
Lady Rocket draws away in the Chicago Stakes at Churchill Downs
Taking command from the start, Frank Fletcher Racing Operations and Ten Strike Racing's Lady Rocket comfortably turned back rivals Sconsin and Bell's the One to decisively win the $200,000 Chicago Stakes June 25 at Churchill Downs.
The 5-year-old daughter of Tale of the Cat scored by 2 3/4 lengths, defeating six other stakes winners, including two that had scored at the grade 1 level.
None could keep pace with Lady Rocket, who set relatively easy splits of :22.67 and :45.36 en route to six furlongs in 1:09.26 and seven furlongs on a fast track with a final time of 1:21.62.
Ahead at every call under Ricardo Santana Jr., she paid $9.80 as part of a contentious field. Four of the seven competitors started at odds between 3-1 and 4-1.
Favored Sconsin stalked outside and advanced a couple of positions from fourth to grab second, a length and a half clear of inside-rallying Bell's the One in third. Four Graces was another 1 1/4 lengths back in fourth.
"Her best weapon is her speed and she broke well from the gate and took me right to the front," Santana said. "She relaxed on the front end and was able to save energy before the stretch. I was looking over for (jockey) Corey (Lanerie) on Bell's the One because I know he likes to come up the rail. So I wanted to make sure she didn't sneak up on us with (Sconsin) closing on the outside. She was able to hold off everyone."
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Chased early by Kalypso and Bayernness, Lady Rocket was able to open up breathing room a half-mile into the race, and no rival was able to get within two lengths of her down the stretch.
"We were impressed she was able to hold her speed this afternoon at seven furlongs," said winning trainer Brad Cox. "I think she may be best at 6 1/2 furlongs and Ricardo gave her a little bit of a breather up the backside and I think that helped her holding off some really nice fillies and mares that were in this field."
Bred in Kentucky by La Ciega and Tale Of The Cat Syndicate, Lady Rocket is the lone stakes winner from five foals of racing age out of the Eskendereya mare Allons Danser . The mare also has a yearling colt by Heart to Heart .
The winner was a $420,000 purchase by Liz Crow of BSW Bloodstock for her owners from the 2019 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training from the De Meric Sales consignment.
Lady Rocket earned $121,330 with her victory in the Chicago Stakes, her seventh win from 14 starts. Her earnings now stand at $699,588.
Last year she notched her first graded score in capturing the Go For Wand Handicap (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack by nine lengths before being freshened for a 5-year-old campaign. Returning April 9 at Keeneland in the seven-furlong Madison Stakes (G1), she set a contested pace before yielding to fourth, beaten 5 1/4 lengths. She then returned with a third-place finish behind Search Results and Royal Flag in the Ruffian Stakes (G2) over a one-turn mile at Belmont Park.
Cox mentioned the seven-furlong Ballerina Handicap (G1) Aug. 28 over seven furlongs at Saratoga Race Course as a possible summer target for Lady Rocket.