Classic Rock reboots 3-year-old season

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Kathy Ritvo and owner Reeves Thoroughbred Racing thought enough of their top 3-year-old prospect Classic Rock this winter to ship him across the country to Santa Anita for the Grade 2 San Vicente.

Unfortunately for them, Classic Rock took ill a week before the race, forcing Ritvo to bring her star back home and basically return to square one in preparing him for the remainder of the campaign.

Classic Rock finally will return to the races Friday at Gulfstream Park, where he is expected to go postward as the solid favorite in the $75,000 Roar, an overnight stakes restricted to 3-year-olds at seven furlongs.

Classic Rock needed three starts before earning his diploma in his 2-year-old finale here Dec. 3. It was in his next outing five weeks later, a seven-furlong entry-level allowance dash, that Classic Rock showed that he might be a special talent. He set a blistering pace and still had enough left to register a one-length decision over the highly regarded Beasley, earning an 88 Beyer Speed Figure.

“The timing of the San Vicente made it the right race for him at that point, and obviously it was a major disappointment when he took ill and could not compete since he was training and doing so well at that time,” said Ritvo. “This is a horse we’ve always had high hopes for, so once he was well enough to bring back home, we just decided to take our time and make sure he was right before running him again. Fortunately, I have an owner, Mr. Reeves, who’ll allow me to be patient like that with his horses.”

Classic Rock has been nothing sort of sensational in his recent morning works, which include bullet five-furlong drills in 58.60 and 58 seconds within 10 days earlier this month.

“His last two works are every bit as good as his works were prior to sending him out to California this winter,” said Ritvo, who won the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Classic for Dean and Patti Reeves with Mucho Macho Man. “This particular race should tell us what will be next. Right now, we know he’ll go seven furlongs. How much further he might go, he’ll tell us as we go along.”

Classic Rock will face eight rivals in his return, including Coleman Rocky, who makes his first start since finishing seventh, nine lengths behind Always Dreaming, in the Grade 1 Florida Derby.

Katalox might give Classic Rock a target to run at. The speedy Canadian-bred has been in front for the first half-mile in each of his four starts, all as a 2-year-old at Woodbine. He, too, has been working extremely well.

The improving Chatiment, trained by Cecil Paul, is the only three-time winner in the field, having beaten $25,000 claiming opposition and higher-priced starter-allowance opposition in his last two outings.

Key Contenders

Classic Rock, by Maclean’s Music

Last 3 Beyers: 88-68-68

◗ Although he was ridden by Luca Panici in his two wins, it will be Ritvo’s son Michael aboard on Friday.

“Michael has been working for me the past several months, has been aboard Classic Rock for all his works, and Mr. Reeves asked him a few weeks ago if he’d like to ride all his horses in the afternoon,” Ritvo said. “He knows this horse as well as anybody right now.”

Coleman Rocky, by Harlan’s Holiday

Last 3 Beyers: 84-64-66

◗ Turned in the best effort of his career in the Florida Derby when finishing just four lengths behind the runner-up, Kentucky Derby-bound State of Honor, and only 2 1/2 behind the third-place finisher, Fountain of Youth winner Gunnevera, despite coming widest of all into the stretch.