Venue change may help Rocket Fuel in optional claimer

CYPRESS, Calif. – Perhaps a change of venue, from Del Mar to Los Alamitos, can revive the fortunes of Rocket Fuel, a 5-year-old gelding trained by Phil D’Amato.

Rocket Fuel will race at Los Alamitos for the first time on Sunday in an optional claimer at six furlongs. The lesser competition at Los Alamitos could be the key to a win, D’Amato said.

“It seemed like every allowance we ran in at Del Mar was like a stakes race,” D’Amato wrote in a text message on Friday. “This race should be a little class relief.”

The optional claimer drew a field of eight, but trainer Mark Glatt said in a text message Friday morning that Mr. Opportunist may be scratched. Mr. Opportunist was claimed for $40,000 at Del Mar on Aug. 18. He won a stakes at Santa Anita in 2016.

KEY CONTENDERS

Rocket Fuel, by Cyclotron
Last 3 Beyers: 70-77-88

◗ After finishing second in his first start of the year, which came at Santa Anita in an optional claimer in June, Rocket Fuel was beaten twice at Del Mar in optional claimers. He was fifth behind winner Prime Issue in a race at 6 1/2 furlongs on July 23, and sixth behind winner Irish Freedom in a race at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 13.

Owned by Andrew and Irwin Molasky, Rocket Fuel began his career with Bruce Headley and won consecutive races for him in the spring of 2016. Rocket Fuel is winless in his last seven starts.

◗ Since the Aug. 13 loss, Rocket Fuel has been based at Los Alamitos, where he has recorded fast workouts at five and six furlongs.

Hitters Park, by Cowtown Cat
Last 3 Beyers: 86-85-93

◗ Hitters Park won a $25,000 claimer at Santa Anita on June 11, the day he was claimed by trainer Gus Headley on behalf of a partnership. Hitters Park started twice at Del Mar, finishing third in optional claimers at five furlongs on turf in August.

◗ A 4-year-old gelding, Hitters Park has speed and could give Headley his first win of the year. Gus Headley, Bruce’s son, has a small stable independent of his father’s operation.

Rockin Rudy, by Midshipman
Last 3 Beyers: 86-83-70

◗ The 3-year-old Rockin Rudy, trained by Doug O’Neill, is another runner who was winless at Del Mar. On July 19, Rockin Rudy was sixth in the Oceanside Stakes at a mile on turf after leading with a furlong remaining. He was fourth in an optional claimer at six furlongs on Aug. 19 in his first start against older horses.

◗ In Sunday’s race, the speedy Rockin Rudy could be helped by an outside draw, which will allow jockey Mario Gutierrez to gauge how the pace unfolds.