Photo by NYRA/Coglianese Photos
Todd Pletcher’s talented sprinter Rock Fall, a four-year-old son of Speightstown that has won six straight races, will return to the races on September 26th in the six-furlong Vosburgh Stakes (gr. I) at Belmont Park.
Earlier this summer, Rock Fall won the June 5th True North Handicap (gr. II) at Belmont by 3 3/4 lengths and followed that up with a nose triumph in the August 1st Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap (gr. I) at Saratoga, but skipped the August 29th Forego Stakes (gr. I) at Saratoga to await the Vosburgh. Rock Fall has turned in five workouts in preparation for his return, most recently going a half-mile in :49.21 over the Belmont training track on September 19th.
Also targeting the Vosburgh is the two-time grade I winner Palace, who has not run since stumbling at the start of the July 30th John Morrissey Stakes at Saratoga and injuring his left front foot.
“He fell and hurt his foot really badly and it’s been quite an ugly wrap. We took the whole meet to get healed up,” trainer Linda Rice was quoted as saying in the Belmont Park Notes. “We finally got him back to the breeze tab before we left Saratoga. In his first couple of breezes, he was a little tender on his foot and I didn’t think we were going to make the Vosburgh. But, frankly, off of today’s breeze [five furlongs in :59.85], I’d say yes. He was really back to his old self today.”
Assuming Palace runs well in the Vosburgh, he will target the October 31st Breeders’ Cup Sprint (gr. I) at Keeneland, which is expected to mark the final start of his career.
Other probable starters for the Vosburgh include Clearly Now, Moonlight Song, Salutos Amigos, Stallwalkin’ Dude, and Wildcat Red. Favorite Tale is a possible starter.
