NYRA/Coglianese Photo

Frank's Rockette wins fourth straight with powerful victory in Gallant Bloom (G2)

by Ryan Martin

Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' Frank's Rockette was never in doubt as she sailed home in the stretch to a hand-ridden victory against elders and notched a fourth straight win in Saturday's 27th running of the Grade 2, $150,000 Gallant Bloom for fillies and mares going 6 ½ furlongs over the main track at Belmont Park.

Piloted by jockey Junior Alvarado, the sophomore daughter of Into Mischief didn't display her typical frontrunning fashion at the outset, tracking in second position as multiple graded-stakes placed Pacific Gale claimed the lead from her outside post through an opening quarter-mile in 22.76.

Around the far turn, Frank's Rockette moved her way into contention and established clear command at the top of the stretch to open up a 5 ½-length lead just inside the eighth-pole. Geared down at the wire, Frank's Rockette crossed the wire a 7 ¼-length winner in a time of 1:16.12 over the fast main track.

Honor Way, who reared up at the start, rallied to finish second three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher Royal Charlotte. Bertranda and Pacific Gale completed the order of finish. Bronx Beauty was scratched.

Trained by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, Frank's Rockette arrived at the Gallant Bloom off graded stakes victories in the Grade 3 Victory Ride on July 4 at Belmont Park and the Grade 2 Prioress on September 5 at Saratoga. She has been made the favorite in all 10 of her lifetime starts and has never finished worse than second.

"Plan A was to try to go the lead," said Alvarado. "We broke out of there and I sent her, but they all sent their horses, so I settled and from there was just waiting until it was time. I went by that horse [Pacific Gale, No. 6] and she really opened up and made my job very easy."

Mott, who conditioned 2000 Gallant Bloom winner Dream Supreme, said that Frank's Rockette has matured throughout the year.

"The difference has been from this spring to now," Mott said. "She put on weight over the winter. We were in Florida and it seemed like she was light and not really carrying the weight I'd like to see, but we brought her up north. She was here in New York for a while and over June, July and August, she really filled out and put on some weight and looks great, and it's paying off right now."

Mott said Frank's Rockette, who was supplemented to the Gallant Bloom, could take things up a notch for the Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Sprint on November 7 at Keeneland.

"I'm sure we'll consider it, we just have to see," Mott said. "I have to talk to my owner. She's rating a little bit and seems to like it. With today's group, seven-eighths wouldn't be a problem, but the Breeders' Cup is a different story and a different group of horses. I'm proud of our filly and I think we need to consider it, but we need to be realistic, too."

Returning $2.70 as the heavy favorite for a $2 win bet, Frank's Rockette enhanced her lifetime earnings to $606,103 while boasting a record of 10-6-4-0. 

A Kentucky homebred, Frank's Rockette is out of the graded stakes-winning Indian Charlie mare Rocket Twentyone.

Live racing resumes Sunday at Belmont with a 10-race card highlighted by a trio of graded events, including the Grade 2, $150,000 Miss Grillo at 1 1/16-miles on turf for juvenile fillies; the Grade 2, $150,000 Beldame at nine furlongs on Big Sandy for fillies and mares 3-years-old and upwards; and the Grade 3, $150,000 Belmont Turf Sprint Invitational at six furlongs for 3-year-olds and upward. First post is 12:50 p.m. Eastern.