Belmont Park
Matriarch attractive spot for Roca Rojo
Chelsea Durand/NYRA Roca Rojo wins the Grade 3 Athenia Stakes at Belmont Park on Sunday.
ELMONT, N.Y. – Roca Rojo, a 3 1/4-length winner of Sunday’s Grade 3 Athenia Stakes at Belmont, could make her next start in the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch at Del Mar on Dec. 4, trainer Chad Brown said Monday.
Roca Rojo, an Irish-bred daughter of Strategic Prince, showed an explosive turn of foot in the stretch to win the Athenia and improve her record to 5 for 6.
“Loved the soft ground,” Brown said. “She’s a talented horse regardless, but she does move up on soft ground. Probably take a shot in the Matriarch next out, knowing we’re likely to catch firm ground out West. However, she has run well on firm as well.”
Roca Rojo earned a 104 Beyer Speed Figure for the Athenia victory, which was Brown’s 30th graded stakes win this year on turf.