Fletcher had big New Year's weekend

It was a New Year’s weekend to remember for Arkansas-based owner Frank Fletcher.

A day after his Frank’s Rockette won the Grade 3 Sugar Swirl on Dec. 31 at Gulfstream Park, he was at his home track of Oaklawn to watch Victory Formation capture the first Kentucky Derby points race of the year, the $250,000 Smarty Jones. Fletcher races the undefeated Victory Formation with Spendthrift Farm.

“I am a 50 percent owner of this horse with Spendthrift, and we also own Rocket and Roll,” Fletcher said of a promising 3-year-old maiden set to run at Oaklawn. “We bought two horses together, and so it’s a new partnership.”

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Brad Cox trains both runners. Fletcher said Victory Formation is now being pointed for the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel on Feb. 25 at Oaklawn.

“He’s going to train in New Orleans, where it’s warmer, and provided things go well, we’ll enter in the Rebel, which will be a big thrill,” Fletcher said.

The $250,000 Carousel is on the same card, and Fletcher said he hopes trainer Bill Mott will consider bringing Frank’s Rockette for the six-furlong race for fillies and mares. The millionaire won the Sugar Swirl at the same distance, by 12 lengths and with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 105.

Victory Formation earned a career-high Beyer of 91 in the Smarty Jones, which came following a maiden sprint at Keeneland and a first-level allowance sprint at Churchill Downs.

“I was lucky enough to be at Keeneland for his first race,” Fletcher said. “He went out front, went wire to wire, and was very impressive.”

Fletcher said he liked the fight Victory Formation showed in the allowance, when he came back after being passed in the latter stages.

“I saw a lot of heart and a lot of guts, and that gave me hope,” Fletcher said. “And I was just really proud of him at Oaklawn.

“He came out of the eight [hole] and I think he had to use a lot of energy to crossover. I looked at the clock and he was going a survivable pace. I felt good when I saw the half-mile time. He seemed to finish very strong.”

Fletcher has another promising 3-year-old in Florida. Rocket Can was a maiden-route winner in October at Churchill Downs for Mott. Fletcher said he’s hoping the Into Mischief colt might develop into a candidate for the Tampa Bay Derby.

These days, there’s been a lot of excitement for the hometown horse Victory Formation.

“I hope a lot people in Arkansas are pulling for us,” said Fletcher.

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