J P Rocker adapts to dirt in Breeders' Derby

J P Rocker moved back to dirt and back into the winner’s circle but it wasn’t easy as the 3-year-old gelding only narrowly won Saturday’s $50,000 Gene Fleming Breeders’ Derby, the richest of the five stakes events at Turf Paradise spotlighting Arizona-breds.

Owned by John Pendergast and trained by Joseph Johnson, J P Rocker ($4.20) had romped by 7 1/2 lengths in a dirt sprint here March 3. He then tried turf and routing for the first time in the Tempe Handicap on March 15 but after prompting the pace fell away to finish fifth. Apparently routing wasn’t the issue as he handled the 1 1/16 miles in the Fleming, a dirt race for 3-year-old males. Under Juan Rivera, J P Rocker stalked pacesetter Deadly Black Eagle, moved up to challenge that tiring rival into the lane, grabbed the lead by midstretch , and then as the even-money favorite just got to the line before hard-charging 43-1 longshot G Faikir. It was another 4 1/2 lengths back to Lawly’s Goal in the field of nine. Desert Wildcatter was pulled up and vanned off.

J P Rocker ran the distance in 1:45.57. The winner’s check of $31,240 gives him earnings of $66,731 from 3 wins in 7 starts.

In the other stakes action:

*Aware ($4.60) dueled early before taking control in the lane to capture the $35,000 Joanne Dye, a 6 1/2-furlong event for 3-year-old fillies. Owned and trained by Don Schnel, Aware was coming off a romping allowance win here April 9 and backed it up with the stakes victory. Under Scott Stevens, she dueled early with Haveyouseenmydaddy, dispatched with that rival turning for home, opened up into the lane, and held sway to win by 1 ¾ lengths. Idling rallied for second while Fascinating Dixie was third in the field of six. Lazy Daisy May, the 4-5 favorite, blew the start to be last early and was never able to recover, finishing fifth.

Aware ran the distance in 1:17.68 and the winner’s share of $21,483 gives her earnings of $38,937 from 3 wins in 4 starts.

*On paper it looked as though Red Zeus ($2.40) would dominate the $35,000 Dwight D. Patterson Handicap for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the turf course, and that’s the way it played out on the track as the 4-year-old gelding dominated as the overwhelming 1-5 favorite. Owned by Peggy Hopwood and trained by Dan McFarlane, Red Zeus stalked in third under Kelly Bridges as F D Icy was a clear early leader, had no trouble taking command from that foe going down the backstretch, and drew off to win with ease by 5 1/4 lengths. Silvanus ran on to be a clear second, though he was no threat to the winner. F D Icy finished third in the field of five.

Red Zeus ran the distance in 1:43.56 and the winner’s share of $21,700 gives him earnings of $202,511 from 7 wins in 24 starts.

*Frisky Ricky ($19) was second in the $35,000 Sandra Hall Grand Canyon Handicap last year while no match for big winner Espresso Springs, as he was beaten by 4 1/4 lengths. The 8-year-old Frisky Ricky turned the tables this time.

Owned by Arrowhead Racing and trained by Kaylyn Kato, Frisky Ricky, under Akifumi Kato, stalked the pace in the six-furlong event for 3-year-olds and up, moved up to challenge pacesetter Rockin Home into the lane, got the better of that rival, and edged away late to win by 1 1/4 lengths. Rockin Home set the pace and stayed on well for second while Jamaican Memories rallied for third for a second straight year. Espresso Springs, the 4-5 favorite, pressed the early pace, had to steady going into the far turn, and was unable to get back into the game, finishing fifth in the field of eight.

Frisky Ricky ran the distance in 1:09.23 and the winner’s share of $21,049 gives him earnings of $166,724 from 10 wins in 69 starts.

*Tempe ($7.20), who had done well over this track before going to Southern California, where she had success, made a triumphant return for owner/trainer Jerry Hollendorfer as she captured the $35,000 Ann Owens Distaff Handicap. Tempe finished fourth against $25,000 claimers at Santa Anita on March 16 and was claimed by Hollendorfer. He returned Tempe here, where she had gone 3 for 7, for this race. Under Scott Stevens, she went right out to the lead in the six-furlong test for fillies and mares, set a sizzling pace of 20.97 and 43.71 seconds but just kept expanding her lead, eventually romping home by 5 1/4 lengths. Tribal Gal, the 2-1 favorite, pressed Tempe early, fell back going to the far turn but rerallied to get second. Lady Jila rallied for third in the field of six. Rock U Up pressed the pace but was pulled up and vanned off.

Tempe ran the distance in 1:09.62. The winner’s share of $21,266 gives her earnings of $114,114 from 8 wins in 15 starts.