HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The first Saturday in April is Frank Fletcher’s first Saturday in May. The owner of Rocket Can is seeking to win the Arkansas Derby on Saturday at Oaklawn Park. It’s the dream he’s been chasing since he got into racing in 1989. “This is why I race,” Fletcher said. “I was born in Arkansas, and I’ve lived here all my life. Oaklawn is my very favorite track and what makes racing fun is for all the people you know joining you in the celebration. We’ve got friends coming from one end of Arkansas to the other for this race.” Rocket Can arrived on the Oaklawn backstretch just before 10 a.m. Central on Tuesday. He shipped in from Payson Park in Florida and will attempt to give Fletcher his first win in the Arkansas Derby. The North Little Rock businessman has had two prior starters in the race: Son of Rocket was third to Balto Star in 2001 and Officer Rocket was seventh to Curlin in 2007. Rocket Can won the Grade 3 Holy Bull in his 3-year-old debut Feb. 4 at Gulfstream Park. He was a three-quarter-length winner, with regular rider Junior Alvarado aboard for trainer Bill Mott. “I went to Florida for the Holy Bull, which was one of the most exciting races I’ve ever been to in person,” Fletcher said. “I had all my friends with me. We didn’t really think we’d win that race and when we did win it we sort of acted like teenage kids. We ran around in a circle. I was laughing and acting just like a kid.” One start later, Rocket Can ran second in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth on March 4 at Gulfstream. :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2023: Derby Watch, point standings, prep schedule, news, and more “We were undecided about what to do next,” Fletcher said. “We were in between the Blue Grass and Arkansas Derby and I told Bill Mott this has been a dream of mine all my racing life, so that kind of decided it.” Fletcher said the late trainer Bob Holthus encouraged him to get into racing. The owner’s first horse, Fast Fan, won a $5,000 claimer at Oaklawn. “I didn’t ever plan on buying a second horse,” Fletcher said. “After that first win, I was hooked.” Rocket Can is a son of Into Mischief who was purchased privately by Fletcher. He bears the “Rocket” moniker of many of the owner’s horses, which is in honor of the German Shepherds owned by Fletcher, all named Rocket. Fletcher names fillies using “Rockette,” as in his homebred millionaire Frank’s Rockette. Rocket Can won his maiden in his two-turn debut in October at Churchill Downs. One start later, he finished second in a first-level allowance won by Confidence Game, who has since won the Grade 2 Rebel at Oaklawn. “They were neck and neck and he just barely got beat there,” Fletcher said. “The thing I like about Rocket Can, he’s built like a football linebacker. He’s got a big back end. He can take a hard hit coming out of the gate. This horse, he’s ready for action. He’s built for competition. “We’re third or fourth choice in this race. I know the horses rated in front of us are all great horses. We’re just going to give them all we can.” As in all Rocket Can. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.