Rocko's Wheel Rebounds at Los Alamitos
Rocko’s Wheel welcomed a return to dirt, defeating five older rivals to win the $59,222 feature Friday at Los Alamitos.
Trained by Phil D’Amato for Little Red Feather Racing and co-breeder Jimmy Ukegawa, the 3-year-old son of Grazen was kept in the clear by jockey Joe Talamo while reserved off the pace, joined the leaders while wide entering the stretch and went on - despite drifting in late – to prevail by 1 ½ lengths.
A California bred out of the Double Honor mare Honored Gold, Rocko’s Wheel completed the mile in 1:35.48 for his third win in six starts. The $35,880 payday boosted his earnings to $118,030.
Favored for the first time in his career, Rocko’s Wheel, who was unplaced in the Snow Chief Stakes in his turf debut May 23, paid $3.20, $2.40 and $2.20 as the 3-5 choice.
Downtown C.T., a Northern California shipper and 6-1 third choicer, defeated pacesetter Better Bet, the longest shot in the field at 16-1, by three-quarters of a length and returned $5 and $3.40. The show price on Better Bet, who set 23.29, 46.59 and 1:10.90 fractions before being overtaken, was $5.40.
Thesheetsguy, who finished 5 ½ lengths behind Better Bet, Brave Act, the 4-1 second choice, and Celebrity Status completed the order of finish.
The win by Rocko’s Wheel was the first of two for D’Amato and Little Red Feather Racing as Holograeme, a 7-2 shot, won the sixth race under jockey Tyler Baze.
Heading into the final two days of the Summer Thoroughbred Festival, Fernando Perez has opened a two-length lead in the jockey standings. He has a half-dozen wins through six days, two more than Martin Garcia, Santiago Gonzalez, Edwin Maldonado, who is nine victories shy of 1,000 in his career, and Flavien Prat.
Doug O’Neill holds a 4-3 advantage over Hall of Famer Bob Baffert in the trainer’s race.
Racing resumes Saturday at Los Alamitos. Post time is 2:15 p.m.
The highlight of the card is the $200,000-guaranteed Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 ½ furlongs. The Grade II is the eighth of nine races. Scheduled post time is 5:43 p.m.
California breds Warren’s Veneda, who became a Grade I winner earlier this year in the Santa Margarita Handicap at Santa Anita, and Sunday Rules, who is 5-for-5, lead the field in the Great Lady M.
In the day’s ninth race, apprentice jockey Cassidy Clerisse will make her debut aboard longshot Uncle Luck for trainer Robert Lucas.
Clerisse, 20, is the daughter of former riders Ken Clerisse and Dorothy Williams.
Source: Los Alamitos Race Course