Rock Fall Extends Win Streak in Vosburgh

Tested racing between horses turning for home, Rock Fall answered again Sept. 26 to hold off a late run from Salutos Amigos to win the $400,000 Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) by a neck at Belmont Park.

The victory by Stonestreet Stables' Rock Fall in Saturday's Vosburgh marked the second straight grade I score for the 4-year-old Speightstown   colt, third consecutive graded stakes win, fifth straight victory this season, and seventh consecutive score overall.

Early on grade II winner Wildcat Red and Weekend Hideaway dueled through a quarter-mile in :22.23 and a half-mile in :45.21 but the race complexion would soon change in early stretch. After comfortably tracking in third throughout, Rock Fall would pounce on the leaders with Salutos Amigos, who overcame early trouble, rallying outside of him.

Being between horses didn't bother win machine Rock Fall as he maintained a slight advantage through the stretch to prevail by a neck over game Salutos Amigos. Rock Fall completed the six-furlong test in 1:08.70.

"He's blessed with a lot of natural talent but to go along with that he's got a lot of fight, which is great. There are a lot of similarities between him and his sire and the way they train," said winning trainer Todd Pletcher, who also conditioned champion sprinter Speightstown. "You wouldn't necessarily know they're as good as they are. Watching in the mornings, he can be a little idle, but you just have confidence that come game time he'll show up. He takes care of himself well." 

The Vosburgh is a Breeders' Cup Challenge "Win and You're In" race for the $1.5 million Breeders' Cup TwinSpires Sprint (gr. I), where Rock Fall would be one of the favorites. Salutos Amigos, who lost three or four lengths early when squeezed back, also appears poised for a return try in the Breeders' Cup Sprint, where he finished seventh last year.

Pletcher is expecting a top effort from Rock Fall in the Sprint.

"I didn't quite overdo it with training coming into this race. I wanted to get this one and still have something for the Breeders' Cup, so I was hoping I didn't cut it too close and he pulled it out," Pletcher said. "It's a fine line between running well in the prep and hoping you have something left for the Breeders' Cup. He's been winning races since March and seven in row so we just want to continue ticking over."

The winner, guided to victory by Javier Castellano, was followed home by Salutos Amigos and Stallwalkin' Dude. Odds-on favorite Rock Fall returned $2.80 to win, $2.20 to place, and $2.10 to show. Salutos Amigos paid $4.30 and $3, while Stallwalkin' Dude brought $3.60.

"The race set up for me perfect today, even though we had an outside post," Castellano said. "With that kind of position, I had to make my own decision, use my own judgment. The other horses sort of forced me to the outside out of the gate and we went towards the lead and stayed in third but kept track of the other horses. Turning for home, I asked him and he just took off for me, very easily. It was perfect though and a good set up for my horse.

"It was amazing. He's a game horse who likes to be competitive. I think it sets up very well for the Breeders' Cup and I look forward to it."

They were followed home by grade I winner Palace, Wildcat Red, Weekend Hideaway, and Brothersofthetime.

Bred in Kentucky by SF Bloodstock, Rock Fall is out of the stakes-winning Medaglia d'Oro   mare Renda. He was a $250,000 purchase by Stonestreet from the Woods Edge consignment at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling sale.