Lone Rock has solid credentials for Birdstone
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – Trainer Robertino Diodoro and owner Jason Provenzano twice claimed Lone Rock for $40,000 last year. Both times he was running in one-turn races.
They certainly didn’t think a few months later, they would be competing in three-turn races with the gelding by Majestic Warrior.
But Lone Rock enters Thursday’s $120,000 Birdstone Stakes off three consecutive victories in races run at 1 1/2 miles. In the Birdstone, he’ll be stretching out to 1 3/4 miles.
Lone Rock, who has won six of his last seven starts dating back to last October, won an allowance going 1 1/16 miles at Oaklawn in February. Unable to find another race at that distance, Diodoro said Oaklawn racing secretary Pat Pope talked him into running Lone Rock in the 1 1/2-mile Temperence Hill Stakes, where he was beaten a neck.
In three subsequent starts at 1 1/2 miles, Lone Rock won an allowance at that distance at Oaklawn, the Isaac Murphy Marathon at Churchill Downs on April 11, and then on June 5 the Grade 2 Brooklyn by 11 1/4 lengths.
“He just loves his job,” Diodoro said. “He relaxes during a race. You definitely need that going that far. It’s not so much the purse, the distance is definitely what we’re looking for.
“This horse is just training great right now,” Diodoro added. “He thinks he’s King Kong right now.”
Ramon Vazquez, aboard for each of the last three wins, is back aboard Lone Rock, who is the 124-pound highweight from post 3.
Moretti, You’re to Blame, and Rocketry finished 1-2-3 in last year’s Birdstone. Moretti was beaten 12 1/4 lengths by Lone Rock in the Brooklyn and then came back to finish fourth, beaten three lengths by Max Player, in the Grade 2 Suburban at 1 1/4 miles.
“We were running in the Brooklyn off an extended layoff. I thought he ran pretty well considering,” Todd Pletcher, Moretti’s trainer, said. “With another race under his belt, hopefully he’s back to his best. But [Lone Rock] is a tough horse to beat.”
Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Moretti from post 4 under 118 pounds.
Rocketry has finished third in the Birdstone each of the last two years. The now 7-year-old ended last year with a victory in the Marathon at Keeneland on Breeders’ Cup Friday, but is 0 for 2 this year, including an eighth-place finish in the Brooklyn.
You’re to Blame finished behind Lone Rock in each of that horse’s last three wins. You’re Blame ended a 16-race losing streak when taking an off-the-turf allowance here on July 25 going 1 1/8 miles. In addition to finishing second in this race last year, You’re to Blame was second in the Miner’s Mark at 1 1/2 miles at Belmont last September.
Ry’s the Guy, He’s No Lemon, and Shooger Ray Too complete the field.