On to Kentucky Oaks for Coach Rocks

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Coach Rocks came out of her victory in Saturday’s Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Oaks in good order and left South Florida on Sunday for Churchill Downs, where she will make her next start in the Kentucky Oaks on May 4.

Coach Rocks, who won her maiden on the lead, had a more difficult trip in the Gulfstream Oaks, racing in seventh position early before having to make a wide bid in the final three furlongs.

“I always thought she was a real good horse. You never know until they do it,” trainer Dale Romans said. “You have to be able to overcome things and be versatile once things don’t go your way. She’s an extremely talented filly.

“Her daddy was a tough horse,” Romans added, referring to Oxbow. “I definitely think he’s going to make it as a stallion.”

Coach Rocks earned an 80 Beyer Speed Figure for her Gulfstream Oaks victory.

Conquest Big E possible for Sexton Mile

Conquest Big E, who defeated 2017 Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming by three lengths in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile on Saturday, could make his next start in the Grade 3, $200,000 Steve Sexton Mile at Lone Star Park on May 6.

Trainer Donna Green Hurtak said she had been contacted by officials from Lone Star about that race even before Conquest Big E won the Gulfstream Park Mile.

“That’s a race that interests me,” Green Hartak said Sunday.

Green Hartak said that Conquest Big E came out of his victory “very cocky but very relaxed, and he ate up last night, so that’s a good sign.”

A clean break led to a front-running score for Conquest Big E in the Gulfstream Park Mile. He had trouble at the gate in his two previous starts.

“I’m the little girl who runs around after the race saying I had much the best horse,” Green Hartak said.

Conquest Big E earned a 100 Beyer for the performance.

Meanwhile, Always Dreaming seemed to come out of his runner-up finish in good order. Always Dreaming chased Conquest Big E all the way around the track.

“I thought it was encouraging,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “He came back and ran well. I think the next one will give us a better indication of where he is; probably make a start around two turns. Haven’t decided where yet. It’s nice to get him back going, hopefully keep moving forward from here.”

One potential two-turn spot for Always Dreaming is the Grade 2, $400,000 Alysheba Stakes at Churchill Downs on May 4, but Pletcher was far from committal about that spot.

“We’ll see how he comes out of it and how he trains,” Pletcher said.

Hi Happy eyes Man o’ War

Hi Happy, who won his first race since 2015 in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pan American Stakes, will be pointed to the Grade 1, $750,000 Man o’ War at Belmont Park on May 12, trainer Pletcher said Sunday.

Coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Gulfstream Park Turf Handicap, Hi Happy received a dream stalking trip under Luis Saez before drawing away in the stretch to a 2 3/4-length victory over One Go All Go.

“That was the kind of effort we were hoping for; he trained very well since the mile-and-an-eighth race and felt like the mile-and-a-half suited him better,” Pletcher said. “He got himself in a good spot and delivered a good performance.”

Hi Happy earned a 105 Beyer for the win.