Rocketry starting season in Skip Away

HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – When it came time to pick a return spot for Rocketry, trainer Jimmy Jerkens was deciding between Saturday’s Grade 2 Pan American, a 1 1/2-mile grass race run Saturday at Gulfstream Park, and the Skip Away, a 1 3/16-miles dirt race run here on Friday.

After the way Rocketry ended last year, winning two long-distance stakes on dirt, the decision to run in the Skip Away should have been an easy one.

“They already think I’m an idiot for waiting so long to run him on the dirt, so I didn’t know how it was going to look if I put him back on the grass,” said Jerkens, who trains Rocketry for Centennial Farms.

Thus, Rocketry will make his 5-year-old debut in the Skip Away, where he figures to be favored against six rivals.

The Skip Away, at 1 3/16 miles, is shorter than the races Rocketry won at the end of last year, the Temperence Hill Invitational (1 5/8 miles) and the Grade 2 Marathon (1 3/4 miles). Or, as Jerkens said, “This is like a sprint for him.”

Jerkens said Rocketry went to the farm for about six weeks after he won the Marathon at Churchill Downs on Nov. 2.

“He came down here when we moved down here and he’s been good,” said Jerkens, who is only 2 for 20 over the last three years with horses racing on dirt and returning from a layoff of 61 to 180 days.

Javier Castellano rides from the outside post.

Sir Anthony pulled off a 25-1 upset in the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday here on Dec. 15, his fourth consecutive victory. His streak ended when he finished fifth here in the Grade 3 Hal’s Hope, a one-turn mile race.

“The horse should run a big race going back to two turns,” trainer Anthony Mitchell said. “Last time, they just ran him off his feet. Hopefully, we’ll get some rain. If we do, I’ll be delighted.”

Zulu, second as the favorite in this race in 2017, is coming off a victory in the Old Hickory, a starter stakes at 1 1/16 miles.

Trainer Todd Pletcher sends out the uncoupled entry of Biblical, a recent allowance winner at 1 1/16 miles, and Marconi, whose lone victory in five starts came at nine furlongs.

Realm, who could be the primary speed in a paceless race, and The Scotsman complete the field.

KEY CONTENDERS

Rocketry, by Hard Spun
Last 3 Beyers: 100-100-96

◗ A decent horse on turf, he really came to life when stretched out in distance on dirt last fall, including breaking a 1 5/8-mile track record that previously belonged to Man o’ War.

◗ He has a steady work tab, which includes two breezes at six furlongs.

Sir Anthony, by Mineshaft
Last 3 Beyers: 92-83-81

◗ Has four wins, all around two turns, since Mitchell removed the blinkers.

◗ Was beaten only 2 1/4 lengths for second in the Hal’s Hope last out.

Zulu, by Bernardini
Last 3 Beyers: 89-82-82

◗ Has a record of 2-1-3 from six starts since being claimed by Jorge Navarro and equipped with blinkers.