Fall' Makes Class Jump in True North

Stonestreet Stables's lightly raced 'TDN Rising Star' Rock Fall (Speightstown) gets tested for class as he makes his stakes debut in Belmont's GII True North S. A second-out romper over track and trip last May, he annexed a first-level allowance in June before hitting the bench for an extended break. Brought back successfully at Gulfstream Mar. 15, the 4-year-old Todd Pletcher pupil crushed Keeneland optional claimers by nine lengths Apr. 18, good for a lofty 109 Beyer Speed Figure. The only runner here to have earned a higher Beyer is the somewhat in-and-out Clearly Now (Horse Greeley), who received a 113 for his track record-breaking 6 1/4-length drubbing of subsequent MGISW Palace (City Zip) in the GIII Belmont Sprint Championship last July 5. Eighth at odds-on in the GI Forego S. at Saratoga Aug. 30, the Up Hill Stable colorbearer was seventh on seasonal debut behind Dads Caps (Discreet Cat) in Aqueduct's GI Carter H. Apr. 4. He finished second by a neck last time to Stallwalkin' Dude (City Zip) in the track-and-trip Diablo S. May 10. Dads Caps went winless in eight tries in between the 2014 and 2015 renewals of the Carter, but nearly defeated GI Metropolitan H. entrant Private Zone (Macho Uno) in September's GI Vosburgh Invitational S. He was third once and second twice behind the hot-hoofed Salutos Amigos (Salute the Sarge) in three tries stakes tries over the Aqueduct inner, including a runner-up effort in the GIII Tom Fool H. Mar. 7. Claimed for $16,000 out of a turf route from Hardacre Farm and Angel Penna Jr. last September, the aforementioned Stallwalkin' Dude won his last four attempts for David Jacobson over the span of just a about a month. MGISW Palace Malice (Curlin) was third behind him and Clearly Now last time in the Diablo.