Rock Fall Holds On Grimly in Vosburgh

Rock Fall stuck a nose in front heading into the stretch and held on grimly to score a narrow victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $400,000 Vosburgh at Belmont Park and earn an all-fees paid trip to the Breeders' Cup Sprint next month at Keeneland.

 

Ridden by Javier Castellano, the 4-year-old Speightstown colt intently tracked pacesetters Weekend Hideaway and Wildcat Red as they zipped through an opening quarter-mile in 22.23 seconds and a half in 45.21. Moving up three-wide on the turn, Rock Fall hit the straightaway with Stallwalkin' Dude pasted to his right flank and Salutos Amigos and Palace hitting their best stride and closing fast. But Rock Fall refused to yield in a fierce stretch drive and hit the wire a neck in front of Salutos Amigos, with Stallwalkin' Dude holding on for third.

 

His winning time for the six furlongs was 1:08.70.

 

"The race set up for me perfect today, even though we had an outside post," said Castellano. "With that kind of position, I had to make my own decision, use my own judgment. The other horses sort of forced me to the outside out of the gate and we went towards the lead and stayed in third but kept track of the other horses.  Turning for home, I asked him and he just took off for me, very easily. It was perfect though and a good set up for my horse."

 

The victory was the seventh in a row and second straight Grade 1 for Rock Fall, who captured the Alfred G. Vanderbilt by a nose at Saratoga Race Course in August. Prior to that, the Stonestreet Stable color-bearer won his stakes debut, the Grade 2 True North, by 3 ¾ lengths.

 

"He's blessed with a lot of natural talent but to go along with that he's got a lot of fight which is great," said winning trainer Todd Pletcher. "There's a lot of similarities between him and his sire [Speightstown] and the way they train. You wouldn't necessarily know they're as good as they are watching in the mornings he can be a little idle, but you just have confidence that come game time, he'll show up. I was a little worried, I didn't quite overdo it with training coming into this race. I wanted to get this one and still have something for the Breeders' Cup so I was hoping I didn't cut it too close and he pulled it out. It's a fine line between running well in the prep and hoping you have something left for the Breeders' Cup. He's been winning races since March and seven in row so we just want to continue ticking over."

 

Overall, Rock Fall is 7-0-0 from eight starts, with earnings of $749,180.

 

He returned $2.80 as the 2-5 favorite.