New connections put Rockinatten in Sham Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. – Little time passed after Rockinatten’s win in a maiden race at Gulfstream Park West in October before the gelding was on his way to California. The 2-year-old was the subject of a private purchase that could have an immediate payoff in Saturday’s $100,000 Sham Stakes at Santa Anita.

The Grade 3 Sham, run over a mile, will be the stakes debut of Rockinatten, now trained by Doug O’Neill.

“I think he’s a big, good-looking guy with a long stride,” O’Neill said Wednesday. “And we’ve got Bejarano.”

Jockey Rafael Bejarano will ride Rockinatten, who was never worse than third in three sprints for trainer Ralph Nicks in south Florida. Nicks co-owned Rockinatten with Niall Brennan. The new owners are a partnership that includes Bada Beng Racing, Joe Besecker, and Steven Keh.

Rockinatten won a seven-furlong maiden race by 8 3/4 lengths as the even-money favorite Oct. 26. The win led Steve Rothblum, an assistant and bloodstock adviser to O’Neill, to pursue the purchase.

Rockinatten is by the Dixie Union stallion High Cotton. The mile will be a test for a gelding who tends to race near the front.

“We’ll have to wait until Saturday to see how it goes,” O’Neill said. “He’s been doing things without a lot of effort. He’s been hinting to us that he’s ready to run a big race.”

The Sham is the first stakes of 2015 for 3-year-olds in Southern California and leads to the $1 million Santa Anita Derby on April 4. The race has a projected field of eight, including Calculator, Hero Ten All, Papacoolpapacool, Pioneerof The West, Rock Shandy, St. Joe Bay, and Unblunted.

Lord Nelson, the winner of the Speakeasy Stakes for sprinters in October, was considered for the Sham this week. Trainer Bob Baffert said Wednesday that Lord Nelson will be pointed for the $200,000 San Vicente Stakes over seven furlongs Feb. 1.

Trainer Mark Casse said Pioneerof The West is not a certain runner for the Sham. Pioneerof The West was ninth in the Eddie Logan Stakes over a mile on turf Dec. 27.

“I’m not sure we’re going to run, but we’re going to take a look at it,” Casse said.