Rocket Can, Taxed begin 4-year-old seasons

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Rocket Can and Taxed both won graded stakes last year at 3 and will get their anticipated seasons started Saturday in separate allowance races at Oaklawn Park.

Rocket Can’s first out since the Kentucky Derby comes in the 10th, a second-level allowance for 4-year-olds and up at a mile. Last year, he won the Grade 3 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park. For his 4-year-old campaign, Rocket Can has been working sharply at the Payson Park training center in South Florida.

“It would be nice to see him come back and run a big race and maybe we can make some plans,” said trainer Bill Mott, one of 22 members of the Hall of Fame to be celebrated ontrack Saturday.

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Rocket Can, who races for Arkansas resident Frank Fletcher, advanced to the Kentucky Derby after running fourth in last year’s Arkansas Derby. He finished ninth at Churchill Downs, 11 lengths behind winner Mage with a Beyer Speed Figure of 91.

“He made a little run, flattened out a little bit,” Mott said. “It looked like the distance got to him the last part. The mile and a quarter sorts them out a little bit. But he did put in a run and actually looked pretty good leaving the three-eighths pole.”

Mott said Rocket Can was given a fair amount of time off following the Kentucky Derby.

“And then we were bringing him back he had a setback, got a little bit sick on us, and we had to give him a little more time than we had anticipated,” he said. “But finally, it seems like he’s coming back good. I think he’s done well.

“We’re back to a second-level allowance race – hopefully we get back on track after running in a couple pretty tough races.”

Flavien Prat has the mount.

Taxed starts with sprint

Taxed makes her return in the fifth race, a second-level allowance for fillies and mares at six furlongs. Last year, she won the Grade 2 Black-Eyed Susan at Pimlico.

Taxed’s most recent start came in September, when she was third in the Seneca at Churchill. The winner, Xigera, came back to take both the Mother Goose and Falls City. Taxed, meanwhile, was freshened.

“We gave her some time,” trainer Randy Morse said. “Our goal was to have her ready for the Azeri, but when we missed all the days here [due to an ice storm], it set me back with her.”

Taxed will be racing at six furlongs for the first time in her career Saturday.

“I entered her in a long race that didn’t fill,” Morse said. “It’s time to get going and just see what happens.

“She’s never run anything shorter than a mile her whole life. The main thing is, I want her to finish and gallop-out strong. That’s what we’re looking for.”

Morse said the right kind of performance could possibly set Taxed up for a start in the Grade 1, $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap next month at Oaklawn.

Cristian Torres has the mount for owner Richard Bahde.

Mott will counter with American Rockette, who comes off a win in a first-level allowance sprint at Gulfstream. It was her first out since November 2022.

“She made up ground on a speed-favoring racetrack and finished up well,” Mott said. “And just to see her off that long of a layoff come back and fire a good shot like that, it was telling that she still has some ability.”

Jockey Flavien Prat has the mount for Fletcher and Mott.

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