Belmont Stakes 2021: Rock Your World seeks redemption

ELMONT, N.Y. – Rock Your World went off the 9-2 second choice in the Kentucky Derby. Any of his backers in earshot of trainer John Sadler shortly after the break would have known early on those tickets would not be cashed.

Rock Your World bumped with Essential Quality coming out of the starting gate and in the first few strides was in front of just two horses. Though he raced in mid-pack throughout the race, in the end, Rock Your World finished 17th, in front of just two horses, 24 1/4 lengths behind Medina Spirit.

“It was over at the break,” Sadler said. “I’ve been training horses a long time, it’s the first time I turned around to the clients after the start and said, ‘It’s done.’

“You’re mentally prepared as a horse trainer to look forward. That was in the rearview mirror, now we’re hoping to get a chance to redeem ourselves.”

That chance for redemption comes Saturday in the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes, the third and final leg of the Triple Crown at Belmont Park. Eight of the 18 Belmont Stakes winners from 2000 to 2017 were horses who raced in the Kentucky Derby and skipped the Preakness. It’s a trend that started with Commendable, who, like Rock Your World, finished 17th in the Kentucky Derby.

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Rock Your World earned wagering strong support in the Kentucky Derby based on his 3-for-3 record, which included a front-running score in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby.

Joel Rosario, who had ridden Rock Your World in his debut victory on turf but not in his next two starts, regained the mount for the Derby. The bump out of the gate with Essential Quality was hard enough that Rosario’s right foot came out of the stirrup.

“I got eliminated right away,” Rosario said. “He didn’t break quick, the next thing you know they were coming over on me so I had to grab him and missed the opportunity to go and get a position. I couldn’t get a position right away, he took a lot of dirt in his face and then had to be wide a little bit. I had to put him where he was comfortable and he had a little too much to do.”

Rosario has won two of the last six Belmont Stakes with Tonalist in 2014 and Sir Winston in 2019. On Tonalist, he was wide early, let the horse get into a rhythm and raced up close while outside and then got up narrowly over Commissioner. On Sir Winston, Rosario came from a little bit farther off the pace but was able to work out an inside trip and outfinish Tacitus to win by a length.

Saturday, Rosario hopes to attain a forward position on Rock Your World and hopes to nurse the son of Twirling Candy’s speed for 1 1/2 miles.

“The longer races set up different, just galloping along and you have to kind of maintain that speed all the way around,” Rosario said. “Sometimes it’s better to be up close because they stay at the same speed.”

Rock Your World arrived in New York on Saturday night along with fellow California-based Belmont Stakes runner Hot Rod Charlie, who finished third in the Kentucky Derby.

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After a walk day Sunday, both horses went to the track on Monday. Rock Your World went to the sloppy main track where he jogged once around alongside a stable pony. Hot Rod Charlie went to the sloppy training track, accompanied by his pony, Lava Man, and jogged once around that mile track.

Rombauer, the Preakness winner, went to the training track and had a controlled gallop, going a little more than a mile.

As of Monday morning, there were nine horses considered definite for the Belmont Stakes: Bourbonic (Kendrick Carmouche), Essential Quality (Luis Saez), France Go de Ina, (Ricardo Santana Jr.), Hot Rod Charlie (Flavien Prat), Known Agenda (Irad Ortiz Jr.), Overtook (Manny Franco), Rebel’s Romance (Mike Smith), Rock Your World (Rosario), and Rombauer (John Velazquez).

Keepmeinmind, seventh in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Preakness, was under strong consideration for the Belmont. But following a half-mile workout from the gate over Belmont’s training track that was timed in 46.93 seconds, the decision was made to skip the Belmont, trainer Robertino Diodoro said. The horse is most likely to make his next start in the Ohio Derby on June 26.