Rockem Sockem still punching

Rockem Sockem roared back into the winner's circle Monday at Pinnacle Race Course when he got up by a nose to win the $50,000 Frontier Handicap. The 7-year-old Rockem Sockem, a past Michigan horse of the year, had to survive a claim of foul before claiming his first win since the 2007 Frontier, which was contested at the now-shuttered Great Lakes Downs.

Rockem Sockem won for the first time after being claimed for $50,000 at Presque Isle Downs on May 24 by trainer Scott Sowle and owner Charles Everett. Ridden by Mary Doser, Rockem Sockem saved ground and made his move at the quarter pole. He came out from the whip several times in the stretch but lasted by a nose over Meadow Vespers. All I Can Get, a neck back in third, steadied slightly when the winner came out. Rockem Sockem returned $22, his most generous win price ever. He raced 1 1/8 miles in 1:53.42.

* The $50,000 Farer Belle Lee Handicap has been rescheduled for Saturday. The race, for Michigan-bred fillies and mares, was a victim of the weather when racing was canceled last Saturday. Though horses were able to train over the surface, the paddock flooded and the jockeys voted not to ride.

The Farer Belle Lee will be the fifth race on the nine-race card, with the $50,000 Sickle's Image Stakes, for 2-year-old fillies, featured as the eighth.

* Pending state approval, Pinnacle will drop Monday racing and resume racing on Sundays through Nov. 2, the final day of the inaugural meet. Pinnacle had previously dropped Sundays for Mondays starting on Labor Day. If the change is granted, Sept. 22 will be the last Monday of racing and Sunday racing will start on Sept. 28.