Rotknee gets back to statebred company, takes Affirmed Success Stakes

Back with New York-breds, Rotknee was back to his winning ways Thursday as he scored a front-running 1 3/4-length victory in the $96,000 Affirmed Success Stakes on the first day of the Belmont at the Big A spring/summer meet.

It was the 10th win from 19 career starts for Rotknee, eighth from nine starts against statebreds. He has won six straight stakes restricted to horses bred in New York, dating back to the Damon Runyon in February 2022. Rotknee increased his career earnings to $640,580.

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Breaking from the rail under Manny Franco, Rotknee dueled inside of Excellent Timing through a quarter in 22.39 seconds and a half-mile in 44.97. Rotknee put Excellent Timing away turning for home and easily held a late-running Sheriff Bianco at bay. It was 2 3/4 lengths back to Donegal Surges. Excellent Timing and Thrill of It completed the order of finish.

Rotknee, a 5-year-old son of Runhappy owned and bred by William Butler and trained by Mike Maker, covered six furlongs in 1:09.89 and returned $5.60 to win.

Rotknee was coming out of a sixth-place finish in the Grade 3 Tom Fool Handicap at Aqueduct on March 2.

“He’s had some tough competition,” Butler told the New York Racing Association publicity department. “He came back to visit the New York-breds and he’s pretty successful here.”

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