Classic Rock returns to work tab after illness

Classic Rock, who defeated the Tampa Bay Derby-bound Beasley in winning a high-level optional-claiming/allowance race here Jan. 6, was back on the work tab Sunday, going an impressive three furlongs in 35.65 seconds while under a strong hold throughout. The work was the first for Classic Rock since returning from California, where he missed the Grade 2 San Vicente after taking sick a week before the race.

“It was only three furlongs, but he looked great, did it very easily,” trainer Kathy Ritvo said. “He’s still a couple of works away from being ready to run again. We’ll probably look for a race for him here at either seven furlongs or a mile near the end of the month.”

Jockey Michael Ritvo, who worked Classic Rock on Sunday for his mother, will return to the saddle in the afternoon for the first time in 16 months when riding Diamond Earring in Thursday’s featured 10th race. Ritvo has not accepted a mount since October 2015, having served in an official’s capacity both here and at Laurel during much of the interim. He started galloping horses again about six weeks ago and is planning on accepting mounts aboard horses trained only by his mother.