Frank's Rockette Withstands Last Leaf's Bid in Roxelana
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Photo: Coady Photography
Frank's Rockette defeats Last Leaf in the Roxelana Overnight Stakes at Churchill Downs
Frank's Rockette collected the 10th stakes win of her four-year racing career when she outfinished Last Leaf down the stretch to win the $173,7000 Roxelana Overnight Stakes April 29 before 20,077 fans at Churchill Downs on the opening night of track's spring meet.
Reduced to a field of five fillies and mares, Frank Fletcher Racing's Frank's Rockette ran six furlongs over a fast track in a stakes record 1:09.26 to beat Last Leaf by three-quarters of a length. It was another seven lengths back to pacesetter Pretty Birdie in third. Junior Alvarado rode the winner for Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott.
The winner is a 6-year-old daughter of Into Mischief out of the Indian Charlie mare Rocket Twentyone . She was bred in Kentucky by her owner.
Pretty Birdie broke fastest of all and rattled off a first quarter-mile in :21.97 and the half-mile in :45.12 as Coppelia chased from the outside and the favorite Frank's Rockette tracked in third along the rail. Leaving the turn for home, Frank's Rockette cut between horses and put away the two early leaders as Last Leaf attempted to close along the rail. Frank's Rockette was able to turn back the inside charge from the 16-1 longshot and won in game fashion.
Frank's Rockette, who was the odds-on 2-5 favorite, paid $2.90 to win.
"Whenever you ride a horse for a great trainer like Bill Mott you're confident going into a race," Alvarado said. "We broke a little slow but I let her just settle and gather her footing before asking her to get into position. She's a very nice filly that seems to get better with age."
It was the 12th career win in 26 starts for Frank's Rockette, and the $108,500 winner's share boosted her earnings to $1,410,033. She's won three of her five starts at Churchill Downs.
Frank's Rockette has won three straight stakes races. Previously, she won the Sugar Swirl Stakes (G3) Dec. 31 and Hurricane Bertie (G3) March 11 at Gulfstream Park.
"She was in good form going into last year and I think going into this year she's as good as ever," Mott said. "We certainly wouldn't rule out eventually trying to get her a grade 1 but we'll take it one race at a time and see how she's doing."
Saturday's Roxelana annually honors the crack female sprinter who won seven of 11 starts and $264,726 between 2000-03 for owner/breeder William Landes III and trainer William "Blackie" Huffman. Landes was on hand Saturday night to present the winning trophy.