Polytrack no problem for Rock Me Baby

DEL MAR, Calif. – Be it turf, dirt, or synthetic, around one turn or two, Rock Me Baby can handle it, and that versatility paid off handsomely on Sunday at Del Mar when he rallied to win the $150,500 California Dreamin’ Handicap, a race that was moved from turf to Polytrack owing to fatalities on the turf the previous two days.

Rock Me Baby ($6.20), the favorite, was sixth halfway through the 1 1/16-mile race, then unleashed an eye-catching rally outside rivals under Corey Nakatani to roar past them and then coast to a 3 1/4-length victory, his first in a stakes.

Starspangled Heat was second, a half-length in front of Ethnic Dance in third in the race for California-breds.

Unusual Heatwave, who finished fifth in the field of eight, injured his left front leg and was vanned back to the barn of his trainer, Alexis Barba. His injuries were believed to be non-life threatening, according to the stewards via Del Mar’s publicity department.

Rock Me Baby completed 1 1/16 miles on Polytrack in 1:41.91 while winning for the sixth time in 15 starts. Craig Dollase trains Rock Me Baby for West Point Thoroughbreds. Rock Me Baby, 5, is a gelding by Rock Hard Ten.

“He deserved this race," said Dollase. "He got beat a head in it last year” when it was run on turf.

The stakes win was the 100th at Del Mar for Nakatani, second all-time to Chris McCarron, who retired with 134.

Dollase said he was fine whether the race was run on the main track or turf – “I was confident either way,” he said – but said he supported Del Mar’s move to suspend grass racing on Sunday.

“They’ll get it right,” he said.

Rock Me Baby was making only his third start of the year following a seven-month layoff, so he is fresh heading into the late summer and fall. Rock Me Baby was sixth of 13 in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint last fall, and Dollase said that race or the BC Dirt Mile were year-end goals.

“We’re going to focus on November, but he’ll have a couple of preps before that,” Dollase said.