Rocco to ride Highway Star in Heavenly Prize

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Joe Rocco Jr. has picked up the mount on Highway Star when the multiple graded stakes-winning New York-bred mare makes her 5-year-old debut in Saturday’s $150,000 Heavenly Prize Invitational at Aqueduct.

Rocco replaces Angel Arroyo, who had ridden Highway Star in 9 of her last 10 starts. Arroyo wouldn’t commit to ride Highway Star in the Grade 2 Barbara Fritchie last month at Laurel. It turned out to be a moot point when New York-based horses were not permitted to ship to Maryland due to the quarantine of a barn at Belmont Park due to a case of equine herpes myeloencephalopathy.

Rocco rode Bigger Is Bettor to victory in the 2013 Evan Shipman Stakes at Saratoga for trainer Rodrigo Ubillo and owners Chester and Mary Broman, the connections of Highway Star.

“I like the way he rides,” Ubillo said. “I like his style, hopefully, it fits the horse. It seems like they’re getting along pretty well in the morning.”

Rocco has been aboard Highway Star for her two most recent workouts, including Sunday when the mare went a half-mile in 48.89 seconds over the Belmont training track.

The Heavenly Prize is run at a one-turn mile, a configuration at which Highway Star has four wins and a second from five starts including victories in the Grade 2 Ruffian at Belmont and Grade 3 Go for Wand at Aqueduct.

Others expected for the Heavenly Prize include Bishop’s Pond, Boule, Crimson Frost, Divine Miss Grey, Frost Wise, Holiday Disguise, and Inconclusive.