Two unbeatens spice double-stakes card

A stakes winner trying to remain perfect is always of interest, and that is the draw at Retama Park near San Antonio Saturday night when There Goes Rocket puts his win streak on the line in the $100,000 Ketel One El Joven, and Bluegrass Sara does the same in the $100,000 La Senorita.

The stakes are for 2-year-olds at a mile on turf, and together they make for one of the richest nights of racing at the meet.

There Goes Rocket, who is 3 for 3, faces 12 other colts and geldings in the El Joven. His chief rivals appear to be Full Moons Arisin, who won his maiden around two turns and turf by more than nine lengths, and Appealing Secret, an allowance winner at Churchill Downs on June 14.

There Goes Rocket launched his career June 15, and after breaking in a tangle and spotting the field 10 lengths seemed hopelessly beaten. But somehow, he managed to get up for a 1 1/4-length win in that 5 1/2-furlong race, a kick that he would use again in his next start to win a division of the $122,500 Texas Stallion Stakes on June 28.

Following that race, There Goes Rocket was freshened, and returned Aug. 15 to win his two-turn and turf debut in an allowance at Louisiana Downs.

"He laid fairly close, so I expect him to be close to the pace Saturday," said Sam David Jr., who trains There Goes Rocket for Frank Fletcher Racing Operations.

David has given the mount to E.J. Perrodin.

Stakes win No. 3 for Bluegrass Sara?

The undefeated Bluegrass Sara will be shooting for her fourth career win, and her third in a stakes, in the La Senorita. The race, for fillies, drew 12.

With each of her starts, Bluegrass Sara seems to have gotten better. She won her debut May 21; a division of the $150,000 Texas Thoroughbred Association Sales Futurity on June 7; and the $75,000 Silver Spur Breeders' Cup on July 12.

Her effort in the Silver Spur was electrifying. She rallied to the leaders in the stretch, then drew off by six lengths. It was the kind of win that suggests she will be effective in her two-turn debut Saturday. Jeremy Beasley has the mount for Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and trainer Steve Asmussen.

Chief rival Topango is unbeaten around two turns and on turf, among her scores a win in the allowance prep for the La Senorita. Trainer John Locke has given the mount to Weldon Cloninger.