Lady Rocket fires strong in Chicago Stakes
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In a race featuring the latest rematch of rivals Bell's the One and Sconsin, but including several other graded stakes winners in the field, it was Lady Rocket who stole the show, wiring the group in the Grade 3, $200,000 Chicago Stakes for female sprinters on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Lady Rocket ($9.80), true to her name, fired away from the gate under Ricardo Santana Jr. and clicked off an opening quarter of 22.67 seconds on the fast main track while hounded by Grade 1 winner Kalypso on her flank. Favored Sconsin settled into a stalking spot in fourth while Bell's the One was 6 1/2 lengths back through that opening quarter as last of seven, awaiting her customary late rally.
Lady Rocket began to shake clear entering the far turn through the half in 45.36, as Kalypso came under a ride and Bayerness advanced along the inside. Meanwhile, Sconsin was revving up wide and on the outside, and Bell's the One was beginning to make progress inside after being forced to tap on the brakes.
But Lady Rocket took a two-length lead into the stretch and continued to power along, hitting the wire 2 3/4 lengths in front. She finished the seven furlongs in 1:21.62, getting a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.
Sconsin, who was wandering to the outside, held second by 1 1/2 lengths over her rival Bell's the One, who finally rallied along the inside to snag third. They were followed, in order, by Four Graces, Bayerness, Pennybaker, and Kalypso.
"Her best weapon is her speed, and she broke well from the gate and took me right to the front," Santana said. "She relaxed on the front end and was able to save energy before the stretch. I was looking over for Corey [Lanerie] on Bell’s the One because I know he likes to come up the rail. So I wanted to make sure she didn’t sneak up on us with [Sconsin] closing on the outside. She was able to hold off everyone.”
This was the fourth career stakes win for Lady Rocket, a 5-year-old Tale of the Cat mare trained by Brad Cox for Frank Fletcher Racing and Ten Strike Racing. She did not miss the board in 2021 while winning the Go for Wand Handicap going a mile at Aqueduct, as well as the Pumpkin Pie at Belmont and the Misty Bennett Pink Ribbon at Charles Town.
Lady Rocket opened this year by finishing fourth in a solid edition of the Grade 1 Madison going seven furlongs at Keeneland behind Just One Time, Bell's the One, and Kimari. She followed that up by running third in the Grade 2 Ruffian, going the mile at Belmont behind Search Results and Royal Flag. She cut back to seven furlongs again on Saturday.
“We were impressed she was able to hold her speed this afternoon at seven furlongs," Cox said. "I think she may be best at 6 1/2 furlongs, and Ricardo gave her a little bit of a breather up the backside and I think that helped her holding off some really nice fillies and mares that were in this field.”