Great Lakes Downs track report

The champ is back.

Rockem Sockem, the 2004 Great Lakes Downs horse of the year, made his return to his home track a successful one when he was best by a length in the $50,000 Wolverine Stakes on Monday evening.

The track's leading rider, Terry Houghton, was aboard Rockem Sockem, a 4-year-old gelding owned by Henry Mast and trained by Dr. Bob Gorham.

Unrushed in the early going, Rockem Sockem moved five wide at the quarter pole to start his attack on the leaders. He had to steady at the eighth pole in order to move outside traffic before being clear at the wire over Dangel. Above the Wind, last year's Wolverine winner, was third, another half-length back. It was the eighth victory for Rockem Sockem, who was also a local champion at 2.

In his only other start this year, Rockem Sockem ran sixth in an allowance/optional claimer at Hawthorne.

* Born to Dance, the 2001 Great Lakes horse of the year as a juvenile, was victorious in Saturday's Larkspur Handicap. Bred and owned by Ro Parra and trained by James Jackson, Born to Dance was a comfortable 2 1/4-length winner over Charlies Indian. Veteran Luis Martinez Sr. was in the irons.

* Mary Doser, off since opening weekend after a spill, found the winner's circle in her first mount after a month's recuperation for a shoulder separation. She won the fourth race on Saturday with Meadow Vespers for her main client, Richard Rettele.