VOSBURGH STAKES

(Grade 1)

THE odds-on favourite Rock Fall had to fight for his victory in the Grade 1 Vosburgh Stakes but emerged victorious for his fifth win in a row this season and a total of seven in a row.

Racing between horses turning for home, Rock Fall found more to hold off a late run from Salutos Amigos to win by a neck at Belmont Park.

Stonestreet Stables’ four-year-old son of Speightstown was winning his second Grade 1 of the year.

From the start Wildcat Red and Weekend Hideaway duelled through a half-mile in :45.21secs but things changed in early stretch.

After comfortably tracking in third throughout, Rock Fall pounced as Salutos Amigos rallied outside of him.

Rock Fall had to fight to maintain a slight advantage through the stretch but was strongest at the finish to prevail by a neck over game Salutos Amigos, running the six furlongs in 1m 08.70secs.

Natural talent

“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. There are a lot of similarities between him and his sire and the way they train,” said winning trainer Todd Pletcher, who also trained champion sprinter Speightstown.

Rock Fall will be one of the favourites for the $1.5 million Breeders’ Cup TwinSpires Sprint. “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,” Pletcher said.

“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.”

“The race set up for me perfect today, even though we had an outside post,” winning jockey Castellano said.

“The other horses sort of forced me to the outside out of the gate and we went towards the lead and stayed in third.

Perfect

“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. He’s a game horse who likes to be competitive. I think it sets up very well for the Breeders’ Cup and I look forward to it.”

Rock Fall was a $250,000 purchase by Stonestreet Stables at the 2012 Fasig-Tipton New York Saratoga select yearling sale.