American Rockette to Show Kick in Golden Rod
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Photo: Coglianese Photos/Susie Raisher
American Rockette wins a maiden race at Saratoga Race Course
After missing the Nov. 4 NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Keeneland reportedly due to a fever, Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' American Rockette returns to racing action in the $400,000 Golden Rod Stakes (G2) Nov. 26 at Churchill Downs.
The homebred daughter of American Pharoah out of the Indian Charlie mare Rockeytwentyone drops from top-level stakes company, having been fourth in both the Oct. 2 Frizette Stakes (G1) and Sept. 4 Spinaway Stakes (G1) following a debut maiden victory July 21 at Saratoga Race Course.
Though she is a half-sister to graded-winning sprinter Frank's Rockette (Into Mischief ), her history of finishing strongly in her races seemingly bodes well for her stretch out to the Golden Rod's 1 1/16-mile distance. The Golden Rod for juvenile fillies serves as a prep race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, providing qualifying points on a 10-4-2-1 scale.
Florent Geroux picks up the ride on American Rockette, who has twice worked a half-mile for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott since being scratched from the Breeders' Cup. Mott is a two-time Golden Rod winner.
The Golden Rod is the tenth race of 12 on the special "Stars of Tomorrow" program that features all 2-year-old races, including the $400,000 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2).
The Golden Rod includes the 1-2 finishers from the Oct. 30 Rags to Riches Stakes in Hoosier Philly and T Max . That race was was also contested at 1 1/16 miles.
Video: Rags to Riches S. (BT)
Hoosier Philly, a gray daughter of Into Mischief trained by Tom Amoss, splashed her way to a 7 1/2-length victory. That race followed a debut win at Churchill Downs Sept. 25 which she won on a fast track.
Backed to just over even money in each of her two starts, she could be favored again by the betting public. Edgar Morales is aboard.
A new shooter to stakes company is Godolphin's Pretty Mischievous , another daughter of Into Mischief. The Brendan Walsh trainee is 2-for-2 while racing exclusively at Churchill Downs. Pretty Mischievous broke her maiden Sept. 18 by 2 1/4 lengths and returned Oct. 30, where she scored to a 1 3/4-length allowance in the slop. Her first race came at 6 1/2 furlongs, her second at seven furlongs.
Her dam, the Tapit mare Pretty City Dancer , was at her best around one turn, taking the seven-furlong Spinaway Stakes in 2016 as her top achievement.
Leading rider Tyler Gaffalione will retain the mount from the rail.
Other well-bred 2-year-old fillies in the Golden Rod include Pure Pauline (Curlin ), who is out of the grade 2-winning Pulpit mare Keen Pauline , and Knockyoursocksoff (Kitten's Joy ), a stakes-placed grass-running filly who is a half sister to 2021 San Gabriel Stakes (G3) winner Bob and Jackie .
Churchill Downs, Saturday, November 26, 2022, Race 10Entries: Golden Rod S. (G2)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Pretty Mischievous (KY)
Tyler Gaffalione
122
Brendan P. Walsh
5/2
2
2Mustang Lady (KY)
Rafael Bejarano
122
Troy Newton
15/1
3
3American Rockette (KY)
Florent Geroux
122
William I. Mott
10/1
4
4Hoosier Philly (KY)
Edgar Morales
122
Thomas M. Amoss
1/1
5
5Black Forest (KY)
Gerardo Corrales
122
Fausto Gutierrez
20/1
6
6Knockyoursocksoff (KY)
Julien R. Leparoux
122
Chris M. Block
12/1
7
7T Max (KY)
Jack Gilligan
122
William Walden
12/1
8
8Pure Pauline (KY)
Ricardo Santana, Jr.
122
Todd A. Pletcher
15/1
9
9Take Charge Briana (KY)
Luis Saez
122
D. Wayne Lukas
15/1
10
10Defining Purpose (KY)
Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr.
122
Kenneth G. McPeek
15/1
