Frank's Rockette blazes to a bounce-back Churchill Downs win

Frank’s Rockette, who had the misfortune of running into top sprinter Kimari last time in Oaklawn Park’s Purple Martin Stakes, got back on the beam Monday at Churchill Dows.

In a Race 2 under the Twin Spires, the 3-year-old daughter of Into Mischief made easy work of her competition in a 3/4-mile allowance optional claiming event despite absorbing significant pace pressure.

Frank’s Rockette ran inside of longshot Anna’s Fast through an opening quarter mile in 21.88 seconds before putting that rival away at the top of the stretch as the half mile flashed up in 44.51.

The Bill Mott trainee, who’s campaigned by Frank Fletcher Racing Operations, kicked away under a hand ride by Martin Garcia, finishing up in a swift 1:08.80. The 2/5 favorite returned $2.80 to win.

“When the second to last horse was loading in the gate she sort of lunged forward like she was ready to go but she had to reset,” Garcia said. “Once the gates sprung, she broke just a step slow because the ground gave out a little bit underneath her. She went that fast all on her own. I never had to ask her to run or anything.

"I’m so unbelievably blessed to be able to ride a horse like that. She’s a very, very special filly.”

In seven career starts, Frank’s Rockette has now won three times and never missed the exacta. The homebred looks like a stakes candidate again having won Gulfstream’s Any Limit on Feb. 22 before the April 4 Purple Martin defeat to Kimari, who’s likely Royal Ascot-bound for Wesley Ward’s barn, speaking to her class.

Within the division, Churchill hosts the Dogwood (G3) for 3-year-old fillies at seven furlongs on June 6. If connections are feeling especially ambitious, the Acorn (G1) goes around a one-turn mile on June 20 at Belmont Park.