8th-BEL, $80,000, Alw (C)/Opt. Clm ($62,500), 6-30, 3yo/up, f/m, 7fT, 1:19.91, fm.
ROCA ROJO (IRE) (f, 4, Strategic Prince {GB}–Lucy Diamonds {Ire}, by Orpen), a half-sister to Beauty Flame (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {GB}), GSW & MG1SP-HK, $2,063,085, was perfect in a pair of wins in a 15-day span last May in her native Ireland for the Roca Partnership and trainer Adrian McGuinness, but hadn't been heard from since. Adding Lasix in her first attempt for these connections off the lengthy layoff in her U.S. debut, the 8-5 favorite raced a bit headstrong while trailing the field after getting pinched at the start. Still with plenty to do while trailing the field of seven through a half mile in :44.92, Roca Rojo began to roll while widest of all on the turn for home and exploded down the center of the course in the stretch to win going away by 2 1/4 lengths in a snappy final time. Fair Point (Smart Strike) was second. Roca Rojo's dam has a 2-year-old colt by Footstepsinthesand (GB) and a yearling colt by Kodiac (GB). Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $69,262. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Sheep Pond Partners, Newport Stables LLC & Bradley Thoroughbreds; B-Mr Tommy Murphy (IRE); T-Chad C. Brown. [bullet ad=”bradley-comerunwithus”]
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