Up for sale is a brand new copy of the 2012 Saratoga Fasig Tipton auction catalog. Lots of Grade 1 winners in here: Tepin, Tonalist, Constitution, and Rock Fall. On the cover is Plum Pretty and Union Rags. Thanks for looking and good luck.
Tepin (foaled March 14, 2011) is a retired Thoroughbred
racehorse who was named the American Champion Female Turf Horse of 2015 and
2016. She showed very promising form as a two-year-old in 2013 when she won the
Delta Princess Stakes on the dirt. After a disappointing three-year-old season
when she failed to win in four starts, she emerged as a top-class turf
performer in 2015. Her wins as a four-year-old included the Churchill Distaff
Turf Mile Stakes, Just A Game Stakes and First Lady Stakes before recording her
biggest success when defeating male opposition in the Breeders' Cup Mile. In
2016, she won her first four starts and was then sent to England, where she
defeated a field of leading European milers to win the Queen Anne Stakes. On
returning to North America, she extended her winning streak to eight in the
Woodbine Mile. The streak included three Grade/Group 1 wins against male horses
in three different countries. Although Tepin finished second in her next two
starts including an effort to defend her title in the Breeders Cup Mile, she
was still named the Champion Female Turf Horse for the second year in a row.
Tepin was inducted to the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2020 and the US
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2022.[3]
Background
Tepin is a bay mare with three white socks and a small white
star who was bred in Kentucky by Machmer Hall. She was sired by the sprinter
Bernstein, who won the Railway Stakes and the Concorde Stakes when trained in
Ireland by Aidan O'Brien. His most notable other progeny has been Karakontie,
who won the Breeders' Cup Mile in 2014.[4] Her dam Life Happened was an unraced
daughter of another O'Brien sprinter Stravinsky: before foaling Tepin she had
produced the colt Vyjack, whose wins included the Jerome Stakes and the Kelso
Handicap. She was descended from the mare Omayya, who was the ancestor of many
important winners including the Melbourne Cup winner Americain and the Irish
Oaks winner Melodist.
As a yearling Tepin was consigned to the Fasig-Tipton sale
at Saratoga in August and was bought for $140,000 by Robert E. Masterson.[6]
She was sent into training with Mark Casse, who was inducted into the Canadian
Racing Hall Of Fame in 2016. As Casse is based at Woodbine in Canada and Tepin
was based in the U.S., much of her day-to-day training was handled by his son,
Norman Casse.
Tepin is named for the street on which Masterson lives, not
the pepper. Her nickname is the "Queen of the Turf".[8]
Racing career
2013: two-year-old season
Tepin began her racing career by finishing fourth in a six
furlong maiden race on the dirt at Churchill Downs on September 7 2013. In
October she contested a maiden over seven furlongs on the synthetic track at
Keeneland and recorded her first victory, taking the lead in the stretch and
coming home three and a quarter lengths clear of Adellusion.[9] Later that
month she returned to Churchill Downs and finished third to Clever Beauty in
the one mile Rags To Riches Stakes. On November 23 she was moved up on class
for the Grade III Princess Stakes over one mile on a fast dirt track at Delta
Downs in which her opponents included the Sorrento Stakes winner Concave and
the Matron Stakes winner Miss Behaviour. Ridden by Miguel Mena, she raced in
fourth place before producing a sustained run in the straight. She took the
lead in the closing stages and won by one and a quarter lengths from Bahnah
with a gap of more than five lengths back to Concave in third place.[10] The
Blood-Horse's correspondent described the result as a "mild
surprise".[11]
2014: three-year-old season
Tepin made very little impact on her first two starts of
2014, finishing unplaced in the Miss Preakness Stakes on dirt at Pimlico Race
Course in May and the Regret Stakes on turf at Churchill Downs in June. Stewart
Elliott took over from Mena when the filly contested the Grade II San Clemente
Handicap over one mile on turf at Del Mar Racetrack on July 20. Starting as an
18.3/1 longshot, she made steady progress in the straight to finish second, two
and a half lengths behind the winner Istanford.[12] On her only other
appearance of the season, the filly finished last in the Grade I Del Mar Oaks
on August 17.
2015: four-year-old season
In 2015, Julien Leparoux took over as Tepin's regular jockey
and rode her in all of her races. She began her third season at Gulfstream Park
in March, winning an allowance race over eight and a half furlongs to record
her first success in almost sixteen months. She was then moved up in class for
the Grade II Churchill Distaff Turf Mile Stakes on May 2 and started the 9.1/1
fourth choice in the betting behind Coffee Clique (Just A Game Stakes), Lady
Lara (Honey Fox Stakes) and Sandiva (Suwannee River Stakes). Tepin led from the
start and repelled several challenges to win by a length and a half from Coffee
Clique, with Sandiva three lengths back in third.[13] Casse explained that the
filly had been suited by making the running at a steady pace and Leparoux
concurred before adding "I really like the filly and was confident today".
Another step up in grade saw the filly contesting the Grade
I Just A Game Stakes at Belmont Park and starting third favorite behind Ball
Dancing (Jenny Wiley Stakes) and Coffee Clique. Her other rivals on this
occasion included Discreet Marq (2013 Del Mar Oaks), Filimbi (Goldikova
Stakes), J Wonder (Fred Darling Stakes), Sandiva and Lady Lara. After tracking
the leaders, Leparoux switched Tepin to the outside in the straight. She
accelerated past Discreet Marq and held off the late-running Filimbi to win by
half a length.[15] After Tepin's first win at the highest level Leparoux
commented "She's got a big heart. Every time I asked her, she was going
and she fought to the end. She kept digging and digging".[16] Tepin failed
to add to her winning tally in her next two starts but ran well in defeat on
both occasions. At Saratoga Race Course on July 25 she was beaten a nose by the
Canadian mare Hard Not To Like in the nine furlong Diana Stakes with
Stephanie's Kitten in fifth. In the Ballston Spa Handicap at the same track in
August, she started favorite and led for most of the way before being caught on
the wire and beaten a head by the Chilean import Dacita.
Tepin began her autumn campaign at Keeneland on October 2
when she was one of eleven fillies and mares to contest the Grade I First Lady
Stakes over one mile on turf. She was favored at 1.7/1 against rivals including
My Miss Sophia (2014 Gazelle Stakes) and a strong European contingent
comprising Outstanding and Easter from the Irish stable of Aidan O'Brien and
Crowley's Law from England. After tracking the outsider Cara Marie, Tepin went
to the front a furlong out and accelerated away from the field to win
"easily" by seven lengths from Crowley's Law.[17] After the race
Casse said "She was fired up today; she went a little wild in the paddock
and stepped on my toe. But I told Julien when I put him up, 'She's on her
game.' She was impressive. We'll probably go to the Breeders' Cup Mile".
As Casse had indicated, Tepin's next race was the Breeders'
Cup Mile at Keeneland on October 31, a race which had not been won by a North
American female racehorse since the ex-English Royal Heroine took the inaugural
running in 1984. The race appeared to be dominated by the French entry which
comprised Make Believe (the 2.7/1 favorite), Esoterique, Karakontie and
Impassable (Prix Daniel Wildenstein), while Britain was represented by Time
Test (Tercentenary Stakes, Joel Stakes) and Mondialiste (Woodbine Mile). Tepin
at 7/1 was the only North American runner to start at odds of less than 25/1.
Tepin broke first out of the gate before racing in second place as the outsider
Obviously set a steady pace before accelerating into the lead approaching the
final furlong. She quickly went clear of the field and won by two and a half
lengths from Mondialiste with the American-trained outsiders Grand Arch and
Mshawish taking third and fourth.[19] After the race Casse referenced previous
female winners of the race saying, "To be in the same company with
Goldikova, Miesque, and Royal Heroine, beating the boys in the Mile, I'm not
sure I have the words. Am I dreaming? She just continues to amaze me".
Owner Robert Materson said, "I told everyone that she was the best filly
in the country and she proved it today".[20]
2016: five-year-old season
At the Eclipse Awards in January 2016 Tepin was named
American Champion Female Turf Horse after taking 211 of the 261 votes.
On February 13, 2016, Tepin made her first appearance since
Breeders Cup in the Endeavour Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs and won by three and a
half lengths from Lady Lara. A month later at the same track she added a win
the Hillsborough Stakes, beating Isabella Sings by a length. She returned to
Grade I company on April 16 in the Jenny Wiley Stakes at Keeneland Racecourse
and started the 2/5 favourite against eight opponents. After tracking the
leaders Leparoux sent Tepin into the lead in the straight and the mare drew
away to win by five lengths in a race record time of 1:40.53.
In June the mare was sent to England to contest the Group
One Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile course at Royal Ascot. European
rule meant that she was not allowed her raceday Lasix medication and was not
permitted to be equipped with her usual breathing strip. She faced several of the
best European mile performers including Belardo, Esoterique, Toormore, Amazing
Maria and Ervedya. Starting at odds of 11/2 Tepin raced prominently on the
stands side, before taking the lead in the last quarter mile and held off the
sustained challenge of Belardo to win by half a length. In doing so, she became
the first horse based outside of Europe to take the Queen Anne.[23] "We
didn’t expect to win," said Masterson. "We took her [overseas]
because we thought it was the right thing to do. She’d done everything she
could do in the United States. We actually wanted to show her off in England,
because they were kind enough to invite us over there."
On returning to North America, Casse considered entering the
mare in the Fourstardave at Saratoga in August but was concerned when she had a
few "blah days".[25] Instead, he entered her in the Grade I Woodbine
Mile on September 17. Casse wound up missing the race at Woodbine, his home
track, as he had been attending the Keeneland Sales and his flight to Toronto
was grounded.[7] Off a layoff of nearly three months, Tepin was not at her
sharpest but hit the lead in mid-stretch then held off late challenges by Tower
of Texas and Mutakayyef to win by half a length. It was her eighth consecutive
win, including three Group/Grade 1 wins against males in three different
countries. As she approached the winner's circle, the crowd started chanting
her name. "Even my people at Woodbine said 'We've never had anything like
this before, we've never been around this," said Casse, watching the race
in Kentucky. "I wish I could have been there to hear [the chants]. We're
just so proud of her."
Tepin next entered the First Lady Stakes at Keeneland on
October 8 as the heavy favorite. Photo Call unexpectedly went to the front and
opened up a lead of 10 lengths while setting moderate fractions. Tepin
unleashed a closing kick down the stretch but fell short by 2+3⁄4 lengths.
"We hoped for the best, but this is why we picked this race in particular,"
said Norman Casse. "We didn't really want to run her 'A' race today. The
goal has always been the Breeders' Cup Mile, a repeat there. I haven't lost any
confidence in her, I think we are still set up to do that and she'll move
forward from this race."
Although Tepin remained the top ranked turf mare in the
United States, some feared she had passed her prime.[28] In the Breeders' Cup
Mile, she faced an excellent field led by Limato (July Cup, Prix de la Forêt)
and Alice Springs (Falmouth, Matron, Sun Chariot).[29] Behind a rapid early
pace, Tepin settled into seventh position on the outside just behind Limato. In
front of them was Tourist, who kicked for home first and sailed up the rail to
the lead. Four wide around the final turn, Tepin made a late charge but missed
by half a length. The time for the race was 1:31.71 – the fastest Breeders' Cup
Mile ever run and just off the Santa Anita course record of 1:31.69. "We
had a good race", said Leparoux. "I was right behind the favorite and
was in a good spot. She made a run but the winner got a dream trip on the
inside. What else can you say about her? She had an incredible year. We were
hoping she would end the year with a win but it's been a pleasure to ride
her."
"You know, Norman came up and said 'Dad, what a hell of
a year it's been,'" said Casse. "I'm just so proud of everybody and
I'm so proud of Tepin. She ran a hell of a race and ... as long as she's happy
and healthy, she could run some more."
Tepin was again named the American Champion Female Turf
Horse in the 2016 Eclipse Award balloting.[32]
Retirement
Tepin was originally scheduled to race in 2017 but
experienced a mild bout of colic before her planned debut in the Endeavour
Stakes and missed the race.[32] She soon resumed training but uncharacteristically
refused to break into a gallop in a scheduled workout on March 27. On April 18,
Casse announced that Tepin would be retired. "We just think she doesn't
want to do it anymore. She's happy and healthy," he said. "She just
doesn't have the same desire to train and we said all along if she showed that
to us we would listen. We've given her the opportunity, we took her to
Churchill which definitely made her happy but she still... it's just
time."
At the 2017 Fasig-Tipton sale, she was sold in foal for $8
million to Coolmore Stud, who announced their plan to breed her to Galileo in
future.[34] Tepin produced her first foal, a filly by Curlin, on May 1, 2018.
Tonalist (foaled February 11, 2011) is an American
Thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2014 Belmont Stakes, beating
the favored California Chrome, who was attempting to win the Triple Crown.
Tonalist won the Peter Pan Stakes in May 2014. He is the first horse since A.P.
Indy in 1992 to win the Peter Pan/Belmont double.[2][3] Later in the year he
defeated older horses to win the Jockey Club Gold Cup.
Background
Tonalist is an unusually large bay colt, standing 17 hands
(68 inches, 173 cm) high.[4] with an irregular white blaze bred in Kentucky by
the Virginia-based Woodslane Farm.[5] He was sired by Tapit, a gray son of
Pulpit, who won the Wood Memorial Stakes and started second favorite for the
2004 Kentucky Derby. Tapit has become a successful breeding stallion with other
progeny including Hansen, Stardom Bound, Tapitsfly (Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Fillies Turf), Tapizar (Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile) and Untapable (Kentucky
Oaks).[6] Tonalist's dam, Settling Mist, a daughter of the Kentucky Derby winner
Pleasant Colony, won once from nineteen starts in 2002 and 2003.[7] As a
great-granddaughter of the broodmare Missy Baba, Settling Mist was closely
related to several major winners including Summer Squall, A.P. Indy, Duke of
Marmalade and Lemon Drop Kid.
As a yearling, Tonalist was consigned to the Fasig-Tipton
Sale in August 2012, by Wayne and Cathy Sweezey on behalf of Woodlane Farm's
owners, Rene and Lauren Woolcott. Wayne Sweezey described the colt as "one
of the most stunning horses we had ever had on the farm. I've raised a lot of
horses in my time, and he was special – not only in his looks but also in his
temperament" but explained that after a "growth spurt" in July
he looked less impressive when he entered the sales ring.[9] He was not sold as
he failed to reach his reserve price of $195,000.[10] Shortly after the sale
Tonalist was bought privately by Robert S. Evans largely because of a family
connection: his father Thomas Mellon Evans had won the Kentucky Derby with
Pleasant Colony.[9] The colt was sent into training with the French-born
trainer Christophe Clement, best known as a trainer of turf horses.[11]
Racing career
2013: two-year-old season
On his only appearance as a two-year-old, Tonalist started a
16-1 outsider for a maiden race at Aqueduct Race Track on November 16 and
finished fourth of the nine runners behind Matterhorn. According to Equibase,
he was towards the rear in the early stages and was forced five wide on the
final turn but made some progress in the closing stages.[12]
2014: three-year-old season
Tonalist began his second season at Gulfstream Park in
Florida, winning a maiden race over nine furlongs in January and running second
to Constitution in an allowance race a month later. Any chance he had of
competing in the major trials for the Triple Crown ended when he contracted a
lung infection which disrupted his training schedule.[11] In May he was moved
up sharply in class when he contested the Grade II Peter Pan Stakes at Belmont
Park. Wearing blinkers for the first time,[13] he was ridden by Joel Rosario
and started the 6-5 favorite against six opponents on a "sloppy"
track. He stumbled at the start but recovered to take the lead after a quarter
of a mile and went clear in the straight to win by four lengths from
Commissioner.[14] After the race Clement commented "What impressed me was
the last eighth of a mile, when he opened up again. I was very worried about
the wet track. I don't breeze my horses on the wet track so that was a complete
question mark. He answered that pretty nicely. Let's see how the horse comes
out of it, but of course we have to think about the Belmont Stakes".
Rosario said "He was doing it easy; he was doing it on his own. I don't
think we were going that fast. He can go a mile and a half; I think he can run
all day. He's a big horse with a long stride, when you get him in the bridle,
the more you ask, the more he'll give".
On June 7, in front of a crowd of 120,000,[16] Tonalist
contested the 146th running of the Belmont Stakes which attracted much
attention as California Chrome, the winner of the Kentucky Derby and Preakness
Stakes attempted to become the first horse since Affirmed in 1978 to complete
the Triple Crown. Clement professed his lack of concern when Tonalist was drawn
on the complete outside of the eleven runner field, saying "He's a really,
really big horse with a long stride, so he can basically run his own race
without worrying about anybody else."[13] After a late surge of support in
the betting,[17] he started the 9.2/1 fifth choice behind California Chrome,
Wicked Strong, Ride on Curlin (runner-up in the Preakness) and Commanding Curve
(runner-up in the Derby). Tonalist broke well from his outside draw and was
third behind Commissioner and General A Rod after the first half mile. He
maintained his position despite being forced four wide on the final turn and
gradually wore down the opposition in the straight to win by a head from
Commissioner, with Medal Count in third and California Chrome dead heating with
Wicked Strong for fourth.[18] After the race Rosario commented "He was
going easy, I didn't want to be too far behind. When I got to the three-eighths
pole I was a little confident. I was worried a little bit turning for home, but
he started picking them up."[4] Evans said "This morning I went to my
father's grave and thanked him for putting me in this position. I've been where
Steve Coburn has been, and it's not fun. I remember it was real quiet after we
lost [when Pleasant Colony finished third in the Belmont] in 1981."[4]
When asked to respond to Coburn's statement that he had taken the
"coward's way" by not running his horse in the first two legs of the
series, Evans said "I don’t think I have a comment on that".
Tonalist returned from a seven-week break for the Jim Dandy
Stakes over nine furlongs at Saratoga Race Course on July 26. He raced in fifth
place before making progress in the straight but was unable to catch Wicked
Strong and finished second, beaten two and a quarter lengths. In the Travers
Stakes on August 23, he pressed the pace on front-running Bayern and ran second
for most of the race, but though he ran willingly, finished third behind winner
V.E. Day and second place Wicked Strong.[19] On September 27 Tonalist faced
Wicked Strong, V.E. Day and the leading older horse Moreno in the Jockey Club
Gold Cup over ten furlongs at Belmont. For this race Clement removed the
blinkers that the colt had worn in his recent races. He started the 3-1
favorite and won by one and three-quarter lengths from Zivo with Long River in
third. Moreno was disqualified from fourth to last for cutting in and clipping
heels with Wicked Strong,[20] resulting in the fall of his jockey, Rajiv
Maragh, who suffered a broken arm. Wicked Strong ran loose on the track, but
did not cause problems for the other horses as he moved to the outside. After
the race, Clement admitted that he should have run the horse without blinkers
in the Travers while Rosario said "He didn't get out very quick, but I
just let him run on his own... He's a one-paced horse, and when he starts
going, he goes forever".
In the thirty-first running of the Breeders' Cup Classic at
Santa Anita Park on November 1, Tonalist started the 4.4/1 joint second choice
in the betting, behind Shared Belief and alongside California Chrome. Rosario
held the colt up at the back of the fourteen runner field in the early stages
and although Tonalist made steady progress in the second half of the race he
never looked likely to threaten the leaders and finished fifth, five length
behind the winner Bayern.
2015: four-year-old season
Tonalist began his third season in the Grade III Westchester
Handicap at Belmont on May 2, 2015. He maintained his perfect record at the
track, overcoming a low start to win by three and three-quarter lengths from
Confrontation. Commenting on the colt's progress, his jockey Joe Bravo said,
"He was a boy (when I rode him at Gulfstream) and it's funny to now see
him as a man. He just completely grew into himself."[22] On 6 June,
Tonalist started the 1.7/1 favorite for the Metropolitan Handicap over a mile
at Belmont, facing a field which included Bayern, Wicked Strong and Honor Code.
After being restrained in the early stages he made steady progress in the
straight and finished second, three and three-quarter lengths behind the winner
Honor Code. Four weeks later, Tonalist carried top weight of 123 pounds in the
Suburban Handicap and started 9/20 favorite but was beaten a head into second
by the James Jerkens-trained Effinex. The colt was the beaten favorite for the
third time in succession when he contested the Whitney Stakes at Saratoga on
August 8: on this occasion he finished strongly after trailing the field for
most of the way to take third behind Honor Code and Liam's Map.
On October 3, after an eight-week break, Tonalist attempted
to repeat his 2014 success in the Jockey Club Gold Cup and started favorite
ahead of five opponents including Effinex, Wicked Strong and Constitution (Donn
Handicap). After racing towards the rear he took the lead in the stretch and
drew away to win by four and three quarter lengths from Wicked Strong, with
Effinex almost seven lengths back in third. Clement commented "I've never
lost my faith in the horse. I never thought he was disappointing, he was a bit
unlucky for the year, but the way he won today was very impressive".
Following a fifth-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Classic
on October 31 and a win in the Cigar Mile Handicap on November 28, Tonalist was
retired. Owner Robert Evans said at the time of Tonalist's retirement that the
horse was still sound and he was planning to race him in 2016, but "the
economic pressures make it hard to keep him in training."[24] Tonalist
will stand at Bill Farish's Lane's End Farm in 2016.
Constitution (foaled February 11, 2011) is an American
Thoroughbred racehorse and the winner of the 2015 Donn Handicap.He is also
known for being the sire of 2020 Belmont Stakes winner, Tiz the Law.[1]
Career
Constitution's first race was on January 11, 2014, at
Gulfstream Park, where he came in first in a Maiden Special Weight race.[1] He
then followed it up with another victory on February 22, 2014, in an Allowance
Optional Claiming race at Gulfstream Park.
On March 29, 2014, he picked up his first graded race win
when he won the Grade 1 Florida Derby, beating Wildcat Red by a neck.
He came in 4th in an Allowance Optional Claiming race at
Belmont Park on October 12, 2014. Then on November 28th, 2014, at the Grade-1
Clark Handicap, he came in 3rd place behind race winner Hoppertunity and
Protonico.
He started off his 2015 season strong by picking up a
Grade-1 win at the February 7th, 2015, Donn Handicap. He won by 3/4th's of a
length.[4] The win would end up being his last victory of his career.
He came in 5th at the September 7th 2015 Grade-2 Bernard
Baruch Handicap and retired after a 6th-place finish at the Grade-1 Jockey Gold
Cup Stakes on October 3, 2015.
Constitution was retired to stud for Winstar Farm soon after
his final race in October 2015.
Rock Fall (foaled March 19, 2011 – October 10, 2015) was a
racehorse best known for winning Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap, and the
Vosburgh Stakes.
Background
Rock Fall was a dark bay horse with no face markings and no
leg markings. He was bought for $250,000 at the Fasig Tipton New York Saratoga
2012 Select Yearling Sale. His sire is Speightstown, the winner of the Breeders
Cup Sprint. He also is the sire of Breeders Cup Dirt Mile winner Tamarkuz, and
Jockey Club Gold Cup winner Haynesfield. Rock Fall's dam, Renda was second in
the Forward Gal, and is by Medaglia d'Oro who won the Travers Stakes and sired
Hall Of Fame inductee Rachel Alexandra.
Three-Year-Old Season
Rock Fall took a bit longer than other racehorses to begin
racing. He did not run until April of his three-year-old season. But he finally
made his debut at Gulfstream Park. Unfortunately his introduction to racing was
less than stellar, as he broke a step slowly. He then went four wide in a
desperate attempt to catch up. However, the move cost him all of his energy
causing him to fall back in the pack. In the end, he would cross the finish
eighth, 16 lengths behind the winner. It would be the only time Rock Fall ever
lost.
His next start would be at Belmont Park, and it went a lot
better. This time at the start, despite being slightly bumped, he rushed to the
front and had the lead by the first quarter of a mile. For the rest of the race
all Rock Fall did was widened his lead. At the wire, he had opened up the lead
to a very impressive nine and three quarter lengths. Less than a month later,
he was back for another race at Belmont Park. He started in fourth again but
this time did not hustle immediately to the lead but stayed in third, three
lengths behind the leader. By half a mile, Rock Fall, had gotten the lead at
the far turn. He remarkably opened up six lengths but he geared down in the
final furlong and finished three and a quarter lengths ahead.
Four-year-old season
After three races from April to June as a three-year-old, he
planned to train at Saratoga but he suffered multiple minor injuries which
forced him to take nine months off. Finally, he returned as a four-year-old in
another allowance. To begin the race, he settled off the leaders in seventh
before moving up to sixth by the first quarter of a mile. Surprisingly in just
a quarter of a mile he moved from sixth to second and was only a head behind
the leader. By the far turn he had opened up one and a half lengths before
holding on to win by one length at the wire. Just a month later he would be
back and running in his last allowance race of his career. He stayed very close
behind the leader by just one length. He then took the lead by half a mile in.
The rest of the race was just opening up the lead to a whopping nine lengths,
defeating New Orleans Handicap winner Nate's Mineshaft.
After such domination of allowance races, Rock Fall made his
graded stakes debut in the True North Stakes. Due to his overwhelming victory
in his last start, he was the 6-5 favorite even though he had never run in a
stakes race before. It looked as though he did not disappoint, starting fifth
and then quickly moving up to third by the first quarter of a mile. After that,
he quickly passed everybody barely having the lead by the far turn. For the
rest of the race he opened up his lead and slowly ran away from the competition
– winning by three and a three quarter lengths and defeating two-time Carter
Handicap winner Dads Caps.
Next he went up in class again when he ran in the G1 Alfred
G. Vanderbilt Handicap running up against Kings Bishop Stakes winner The Big Beast.
At the start, the Big Beast and Favorite Tale fought for the early lead while
Rock Fall stayed behind in fourth and then third. By the far turn Favorite Tale
had the lead but then began to fade, letting The Big Beast take over the lead.
Then out of the blue, Rock Fall took off and got the lead by a nose. Then The
Big Beast had the lead. Their two heads were Inseparable and at the wire it was
too close to call. After minutes of waiting the race was official. The Big
Beast had lost by a nose and Rock Fall would be victorious
After little less than two months of rest, he made his
second G1 appearance in the Vosburgh Stakes. He also had one more big
challenger in Palace, who won the Alfred G Vanderbilt Handicap as well as the
Forego Stakes. It was a battle between two G1 winners. However, Rock Fall was
much preferred and was bet down to the 2-5 favorite. Rock Fall started out
fourth and then third early but he stayed very close to the leaders, only a
length behind Wildcat Red and Weekend Hideaway. By the far turn, Rock Fall was
only a head behind and was with three other horses running only heads apart.
Soon Wildcat Red faded and it became a three-horse race, then a two-horse race.
Stallwakin Dude and Rock Fall were head to head then Rock Fall began to slowly
inch away until he was half a length in front. Then out the blue, Salutos
Amigos flew late and was about to pass Rock Fall, but Rock Fall fought back the
late challenge and was the winner by a neck.
Death
After such success the plan was to work out until the
Breeders Cup Sprint. His workout went well but right after the workout he broke
down and broke both of his front legs. He was euthanized almost Immediately.
Later Stonestreet said on Twitter "We are heartbroken to confirm our Rock
Fall sustained a life-ending training injury this morning at Keeneland."