Frank's Rockette sets record with Roxelana Stakes triumph
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Frank’s Rockette came through as a heavy favorite Saturday night when holding off a stubborn Last Leaf in the $173,700 Roxelana Stakes, the highlight of a 10-race program that kicked off the 44-day Churchill spring meet.
Racing under the lights, Frank’s Rockette and jockey Junior Alvarado waited just off the early pace set by Pretty Birdie in the six-furlong Roxelana, charging past to take command in the upper stretch before holding Last Leaf safe by three-quarters of a length. The winner paid $2.90 after finishing in a stakes-record 1:09.26 over a fast track.
“We broke a little slow but I let her just settle and gather her footing before asking her to get into position,” Alvarado said. “She’s a very nice filly that seems to get better with age.”
Pretty Birdie was another seven lengths back in third, followed by Coppelia and Praise and Honor. My Destiny was an early scratch.
Frank’s Rockette, a 6-year-old mare by Into Mischief, now has 12 wins – 10 of them stakes – and nine seconds from 27 career starts for earnings of $1,408,733. Bill Mott trains her for owner-breeder Frank Fletcher.
“She was in good form going into last year and I think going into this year she’s as good as ever,” Mott said. “We certainly wouldn’t rule out eventually trying to get her a Grade 1, but we’ll take it one race at a time and see how she’s doing.”
The $2 exacta (1-2) paid $13.88 and the $1 trifecta (1-2-5) returned $18.58.
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