Frank Fletcher Racing Operations' Rocket Can rediscovered his winnings ways with a 1 1/4-length victory in the $150,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes (G3) Dec. 21 at Gulfstream Park.
A 4-year-old colt by leading general sire Into Mischief , Rocket Can won the 2023 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) at the same course and distance as Saturday's race. The Bill Mott trainee finished ninth behind Mage in the 2023 Kentucky Derby (G1).
Rocket Can needed time after the Derby, returning to win a second-level allowance optional claimer March 16 at Oaklawn Park. He was winless in his next five starts and came into the Harlan's Holiday off a ninth-place finish, beaten 20 lengths, in the Dec. 1 Cherokee Mile Stakes at Churchill Downs.
"He wasn't good in the gate (in the Churchill race), got jostled leaving there, and was never a factor," Mott said. "He just jumped up and down, so we brought him down (to Payson Park). He worked good, I said, 'It didn't take anything out of him,' so we ran him back knowing he won on this racetrack before."
Also reunited with his rider from the Derby trail last year—Junior Alvarado—Rocket Can sat sixth early in the field of eight but was always in touch. He launched a four-wide rally on the far turn and drew alongside the leader, Wathnan Racing's Tumbarumba, in early stretch and gradually gained the upper hand to win at 10-1 odds.
"He was feeling very good today," Alvarado said. "He was on his toes and that's the kind of way you want to feel going into the race. This horse means a lot to me and the owner has been very supportive of me through the years. It's always great to win with these kinds of connections. It makes it very extra special."
Tumbarumba finished second for his fifth runner-up stakes placing in his last six starts. It was another 3 3/4 lengths back to Steal Sunshine in third. Final time for 1 1/16 miles on the dirt track rated fast was 1:45.01.
Mott said Rocket Can's next start could come Jan. 25 in Gulfstream's $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1).
"I don't know if he's great at nine furlongs, but we would have to consider it because he does like the racetrack," Mott said
Rocket Can was bred in Kentucky by Woodford Thoroughbreds. He is out of the placed Tapit mare Tension, a half sister to grade 2 winner Tiz Midnight, by Midnight Lute. Rocket Can has a 4-4-0 record from 15 starts, with earnings of $612,193.
Rocket Can gave Into Mischief—a son of Harlan's Holiday—his 17th graded winner of 2024, more than any other United States stallion. Into Mischief stands at Spendthrift Farm near Lexington. His advertised stud fee will remain at $250,000 in 2025.
