Repo Rocks, sidelined since June, eyes possible return in six weeks

OZONE PARK, N.Y. - Repo Rocks, a four-time stakes winner in 2023 who has been away from the races since a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap last June, is now with trainer Rick Dutrow and could be about six weeks from a return to the races.

Repo Rocks, previously trained by Jamie Ness, was recently sent to Dutrow from Willowbrook Stables, a rehab, training and breeding facility in upstate New York. He had his first published workout last Friday, a three-furlong move in 38.20 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.

"He looked good, he's getting himself back in the swing of things," Dutrow said.

Dutrow said he hadn't picked out a specific race for Repo Rocks, but believes if all goes well the horse could be ready to run in six weeks. The Grade 3, $175,000 Westchester is run at Aqueduct on May 3 and it's a race Repo Rocks won by 5 1/4 lengths when it was held at Belmont Park last year. In 2023, Repo Rocks won the Blitzen at Parx, the Grade 3 Toboggan and Stymie, both at Aqueduct, and he also finished second in the Carter, then a Grade 1 stakes.

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"If things go every day his way, six weeks I'd be guessing," Dutrow said when asked a reasonable timeframe for Repo Rocks' return. "He should be ready to run a big race then if every day is as it's been since he's gotten back."

Repo Rocks, a 6-year-old gelding by Tapiture owned by the Double B Racing Stables of Steve Fox, has a record of 9-7-6 from 36 starts and has earned $803,371.

Meanwhile, Dutrow said Kinetic Sky and Petulante, who finished a half-length apart when finishing first and third in the Stymie on March 3, are both under consideration for the Grade 2, $300,000 Carter on April 6.

In the Stymie, Petulante was making his first start for Dutrow and first in nine months. Dutrow was pleased with how well the 5-year-old son of Arrogate ran, especially given the layoff and the sloppy track on which the race was run.

"He ran huge off the bench, he ran over a track he's never run on before, [with] a jockey that's never ridden him before, a trainer that's never had him before," Dutrow said. "He showed up."

Kinetic Sky, Dutrow said, will be considered for the Carter or possibly a race at Keeneland such as the Grade 3, $300,000 Commonwealth Stakes, also April 6. Kinetic Sky has finished second in two starts at Keeneland.

"It's all about whom he matches up against," Dutrow said. "We're going to try and get him in the lightest field with the most money."

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