Repo Rocks notches four consecutive wins with a victory in the Stymie (Chelsea Durand)
NYRA Press Office
OZONE PARK, N.Y.— Double B Racing Stables’ Repo Rocks saw his four-race all-stakes win streak come to an end after a runner-up effort in Saturday’s Grade 1, $300,000 Carter Handicap presented by NYRA Bets.
Trained by Jamie Ness and piloted by Andrew Wolfsont, the 5-year-old Tapiture gelding stalked from fourth position and made a five-wide run to finish second, 1 1/4-lengths back of the victorious Doppelganger, who closed stoutly down the lane into splits of 22.40, 44.84 and 1:09.78 set by Today’s Flavor.
Ness said he was proud of the effort from Repo Rocks, who nosed out Expressman to earn place honors. The dark bay gelding returned to his Parx base following Saturday’s test.
“I think he’s better going a little bit longer. Andrew had to really work to keep up with that speed and maybe that took a bit of his kick away,” Ness said. “Maybe, in hindsight, we take a little more hold and make one run at the end. He was a little wide on the turn but the winner was a little bit better.
“He didn’t have the big close like he’s shown before,” Ness added. “The jock said maybe yesterday just wasn’t his day and he still gutted it out for second, so we’re proud of him for that. So far, so good with him this morning. No issues.”
Repo Rocks had been undefeated since joining the Ness stable, capturing the 6 1/2-furlong Let’s Give Thanks in November and six-furlong Blitzen on January 4 at Parx ahead of an 8 1/2-length score in the seven-furlong Grade 3 Toboggan on January 28 at the Big A that garnered a 111 Beyer Speed Figure.
He entered from an impressive 3 1/4-length score in the one-mile Stymie here on February 25, overcoming traffic trouble and drawing off to a strong win.
Ness said Repo Rocks could target the one-mile Grade 3, $175,000 Westchester on May 5 at Belmont.
“That’s probably a better route for us. We’ll put that on the horizon and work back from there and see if it works,” Ness said.
Bred by Mrs. C. Oliver Iselin, III, Repo Rocks, out of the Not For Love mare Hawaiian Love, boasts a record of 34-8-7-6 for purse earnings of $699,621.
