Frank's Rockette kicks away in Prioress Stakes
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – The venue had changed, but the result was eerily familiar after Frank’s Rockette defeated Reagan’s Edge and Center Aisle to capture Saturday’s Grade 2 Prioress at Saratoga. The final order of finish was exactly the same as when the same trio met nine weeks earlier in the Grade 3 Victory Ride.
Although the result was the same, there were several differences between the two races. Frank’s Rockette won the Prioress with relative ease, holding a commanding 2 1/2-length advantage over Reagan’s Edge in the rematch after holding on for a hard-fought head decision in the pair’s previous encounter. The winner was ridden to victory here Saturday by Junior Alvarado, replacing John Velazquez, who was aboard Frank’s Rockette in the Victory Ride. The distance also was a sixteenth of a mile shorter, six furlongs instead of 6 1/2 panels the first time around.
Frank’s Rockette broke well and sat right off early leader Hello Beautiful who set an honest pace, 22.23 seconds for the first quarter-mile and 44.77 for the opening half. Frank’s Rockette stuck her head in front turning into the stretch, readily kicked well clear upon settling into the stretch, and was never seriously menaced thereafter while kept to her task by Alvarado to the end.
Reagan’s Edge also broke well to stalk the early leaders from the outside, continued willingly when set down for the drive, but proved no match for the winner while a length better than Center Aisle, who rallied mildly out near the center of the track without menacing the winner.
Frank’s Rockette, who came within .01 of a second of the course record in the Victory Ride, is a homebred daughter of Into Mischief trained by Bill Mott for Frank Fletcher Racing Operations. She paid $5.10 after covering the distance in 1:08.89 over a fast track.
“I think we made the right choice,” Mott said regarding the decision to skip the Test with Frank’s Rockette earlier in the meet to wait for the Prioress. “The plan worked out well for our filly. She looks good, she looks like she gained some weight, and the distance of this race at six furlongs suits her very well. I’m pleased she ran well, ran fast, and looked like she was good walking off the track, which is the main thing.”
Mott said he certainly didn’t mind hearing the news that Kimari, the only horse that has defeated Frank’s Rockette in five starts this season, was a late scratch from the Prioress
“When I heard the news, I said that’s a very good scratch,” Mott said with a laugh. “I respect the ability Kimari has, she’s a good filly. I guess Wesley [Ward] was looking for a different spot.”
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Mott said he actually was a bit surprised his filly was not on the lead, as she was from start to finish in the Victory Ride.
“I didn’t see that speed coming from her,” Mott said referring to Hello Beautiful. “A lot of it is about who gets the good break. Our filly broke well, but the other filly broke exceptionally well and showed good speed as well. But it was a perfect setup for us, and Junior rode her perfectly.”