Frank's Rockette, Sibelius Win Stakes at Gulfstream

Frank Fletcher Racing Operation's Frank's Rockette  overwhelmed her four rivals in the $125,000 Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3) Dec. 31 at Gulfstream Park, scoring a frontrunning, 12 1/4-length victory under Luis Saez.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, the 5-year-old daughter of Into Mischief   shook off early pressure and drew away in the six-furlong stakes for fillies and mares that kicked off a New Year's Eve stakes action co-headlined by the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G2), a prep for the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1), and the $200,000 Fort Lauderdale Stakes (G2T), a prep for the $1 million Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational (G1). Both Pegasus World Cup races are at Gulfstream Jan. 28

"She just said, 'Adios.' She usually brings a good race to the game, and today she brought a really good one," Mott said. "For some reason she's never shown her best race at Keeneland (11th in Breeders' Cup F&M Sprint). Other than that, she's been one-two-three every other time she's run in her life. She's been a model of consistency."

Frank's Rockette ($3.60), the 4-5 favorite, was pressed to her outside along the backstretch and around the far turn while setting fractions of :22.06 and :44.74 for the first half-mile before kicking away.

The homebred mare's 10th career victory boosted her career bankroll over $1.2 million. She is out of the grade 3-winning Indian Charlie mare Rocket Twentyone , who has four winners from as many to race.

Joyful Cadence  finished second, a neck in front of Coppelia .

Sibelius Earns First Graded Success in Mr. Prospector

Jun Park and Delia's Nash's Sibelius  closely stalked the early pace and drew away from his 10 rivals in the stretch to capture Saturday's $125,000 Mr. Prospector Stakes (G3) at Gulfstream, collecting his first win in graded company.

The late-developing 4-year-old gelding ran seven furlongs in 1:23.04 under Junior Alvarado to score by 2 1/4  lengths in the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.

Alvarado, who guided Stolen Holiday  to victory in the Rampart in the previous race on Gulfstream's New Year's Eve card, moved to within five wins of the 2000-win milestone aboard Sibelius ($11).

Uncle Ernie  set the pace along the backstretch and on the far turn while setting fractions of :22.09 and :44.47 for the first half-mile, monitored closely by Sibelius. Turning into the stretch, the Jerry O'Dwyer-trained son of Not This Time   took over the lead and was never threatened thereafter.

Dean Delivers  closed for second, two lengths ahead of Steal Sunshine .

"The horse broke very sharp, and we were able to save ground a little bit," Alvarado said. "When we turned for home, he was dragging me to the lead. After that, I just had to make sure he kept happy running for home. He was just much the best horse today."

Sibelius is out of the Pulpit mare Fiery Pulpit , who has six winners from 10 foals to race, including stakes-placed Dypsy . He was a $100,000 purchase by Alan Sherman from the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment to the 2018 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

He was bred in Kentucky by the partnership of Taylor Brothers Properties, Pollock Farms, Pat Payne, and others.