Rocket Time comes back firing after being gelded

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Rocket Time earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure in winning the Thursday feature at Keeneland, a victory trainer Al Stall Jr. partly credits to the 3-year-old recently having been gelded.

“I’m much happier with his attitude now,” said Stall. “He’s always been a big, physical, strong-looking horse, but he’s made some mistakes going around there. Hopefully, we’re on the right track with him now.”

Owned by Frank Fletcher and ridden by Hall of Fame jockey Calvin Borel, Rocket Time won under first-level allowance conditions when completing the Beard Course distance of seven furlongs and 184 feet in 1:26.64. It was his fourth career start and the second time the son of Tiz Wonderful earned an 88 Beyer. The first came in an eye-catching maiden win at Churchill Downs in June.

“I’ve got to credit Frank with allowing us to castrate him,” said Stall. “Some owners, after the horse has run as well as this one had, they wouldn’t necessarily want to do that. We’ll run the horse next in a two-other-than at Churchill and hope he continues to make progress.”

Thursday was Make-A-Wish Day at Keeneland, where seriously ill children are given special treatment throughout the day. Stall said Fletcher, a Little Rock, Ark., businessman, is a longtime Make-A-Wish benefactor who was particularly touched by how Keeneland and local breeding farms and businesses reach out to the kids and their families.

“Frank provides his private plane for a child to go to Disney World every year,” said Stall, a father of two. “He’s all for it.”

Meanwhile, Stall said Departing is on target for his next start in the Grade 2 Fayette Stakes on closing day, Oct. 25, of the Keeneland fall meet. Stall will fly to California three days later in advance of Top Decile running in the Oct. 31 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies.