Rockemp the Great rallies to win the game of bowling Green
The last two races due to Rockempang well, coach Chad Brown wouldn’t mind that.
A pair of fifth-place finishes in a ranked race to start the 6-year-old’s season out of the blue on July 31.
Brown had some confidence when he sent Rockemp the Great, owned by Michal Dubb, Wonder Stables, Michael E. Kisber and Michael J. Caruso to the 64th tournament of the $250,000 Bowling Green (G2T) stake at Racecourse Saratoga.
It’s because the son of Holy Roman Emperor showed Brown full of vitality in the morning at the Spa.
“He did a great job,” Brown said.
Those solid workouts on the grass on the Oklahoma Practice Road were carried over to Bowling Green as the Rock Emperor rallied to win the 1 3/8 mile race on a corporate-labelled interior turf.
Ridden by Flavien Prat, Rock Emperor won half the length in the hard charge Arklow and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
“The key to this horse is getting it into a solid yard,” Brown said. “He had a really good ride and I’m pleased with the way it went. Flavien did a great job.”
Rockempang connections during the trophy ceremony after the Bowling Green Stakes
The Rockempaster has now won four of his 22 career starts on grass with four seconds and six finishes in third place. The last eighteen starts came out of Brown’s cage; he started his career in Europe.
Bowling Green is Rockempang’s second-ranked share win in the United States. He also won the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic Stakes (G1T) last October at Belmont Park.
Disqualified by a 2-1 favorite in the five-man field, Prat and Rockemposystem were pleased to settle at the back of the field in the early stages of the race. Housemates L’Imperator also the son of the Holy Roman Emperor, caught up with Manny Franco on board.
On the last turn, the Rockempanger starts his auction and is coming at pole 1/4. He closed strong and took the lead at the sixteenth pole. He dropped out of L’Imperator but had to brace himself for the challenge of 8-year-old Arklow and Irad Ortiz Jr.
“I’ve traveled all over the place,” says Prat. “When I turned the bet, he played well for me.”
Arklow was rushing into the late game but Ortiz lost some points as he had to settle down a bit behind tired opponents at the beginning of the stretch. As he clears out, Arklow, starting for the first time since October, is already running at full speed.
“We didn’t really have a clean run,” said Arklow coach Brad Cox. “I think he wins with a cleaner ride, I really do.”
“I think we were unlucky, or I waited too long to get him out,” Ortiz said.
Brown indicates that he will be looking for a net target for the next Rockempang.
“He’s going through puberty, but he’s starting to get back into shape,” he said. “It’s a bit more difficult to get a firmer ground (in the fall).” “
$137,000 win for Rockempanga, turned millionaire, now earning $1,134,904.
Rockempang finished second in this race last year, behind Cross the border , who ranked fifth in this year’s edition. He completed the journey in 2:15.81 time and was paid $6.90.
L’Imperator is half the length behind Arklow and 2 3/4 in front Head of the Central Highlands who was a neck in front of the Cross Border.
Rockempon fights against L’ Imperator in the extension of Bowling Green Stakes in Saratoga