Classic Rock, Three Rules tune up for Carry Back Stakes

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Classic Rock and Three Rules were a study in contrast when turning in their final works about 20 minutes apart for next Saturday's Grade 3 Carry Back Stakes at Gulfstream Park.

Classic Rock, who finished far back after getting bogged down on a dead rail in the Grade 2 Woody Stephens earlier this month at Belmont Park, sizzled four furlongs in 45.53 seconds shortly after dawn with jockey Luca Panici aboard. Buoyed by a strong tailwind, Classic Rock went his opening quarter in 22.15, finished well within himself coming back into the wind, then galloped out five-eighths in 58.78.

"The track was very fast but, he did it easily and galloped out strong," said trainer Kathy Ritvo. "Luca was very happy with him."

Panici, who rode Classic Rock to a pair of wins here this year, will have the mount back in the Carry Back.

Three Rules was more in maintenance mode this morning after posting a bullet five-eighths here last Saturday. With jockey Cornelio Velasquez up, Three Rules went an easy five-eighths in 1:03.15 before galloping out three-quarters in 1:17.95. Three Rules, Grade 2-placed twice here this winter, finished third as the 6-5 favorite behind Recruiting Ready in the six-furlong Chick Lang at Pimlico on Preakness Day.

The Carry Back is one of three graded stakes next Saturday on Gulfstream's Summit of Speed program, along with the Grade 2 Princess Rooney for fillies and mares and the Grade 3 Smile Sprint. The nomination list includes a pair of 3-year-olds from the barn of leading trainer Todd Pletcher, Blind Ambition and Benefactor, both of whom are stabled at Palm Beach Downs, along with the two-time stakes winner Sweetontheladies, who breezed an easy half-mile in 47.78 here Saturday.

At Monmouth Park, Delta Bluesman went six furlongs in 1:11 on Saturday in his final work before shipping here to defend his title in the Smile Sprint. His challengers figure to include Awesome Banner, who posted a bullet 47.40-second half-mile the previous morning at Laurel Park.