Harlem Rocker
Encyclopedia
Harlem Rocker is a Grade I winning Canadian thoroughbred
racehorse owned by Adena Springs Racing Venture, a partnership headed by Frank Stronach
. He was bred by Adena Springs at their Aurora, Ontario
division. He is the son of Macho Uno
who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
in 2000.
Harlem Rocker has been ridden exclusively by Jockey Eibar Coa
and is trained by Todd Pletcher
.
Harlem Rocker's racing career began at Gulfstream Park
where, after stumbling out of the gate, he rallied on the front stretch to win his maiden race. This race introduced us to Harlem Rocker as the Gray Closer, a horse who stalks the early speed and then upon reaching the front stretch, unleashes his speed to catch, and hopefully pass, the front runners.
After his maiden win, Harlem Rocker finished first in an Allowance Race, also at Gulfstream, in preparation for a start in the Grade III
Withers Stakes
. Harlem Rocker won the Withers on April 26, 2008 over a field of 3 other horses, including favorite J Be K. Having won his first three starts, there was much speculation that Harlem Rocker would follow the path of Bernardini
(2006 Preakness Winner), and challenge Big Brown
in the 2008 Preakness Stakes
. However, owner Frank Stronach
decided to direct Harlem Rocker towards the Queen's Plate, the first of three races that make up the Canadian Triple Crown.
Harlem Rocker raced in the Plate Trial at Woodbine Racetrack, a prep race for the Queen's Plate. Going in as the betting favorite, Harlem Rocker finished 4th on the synthetic surface known as polytrack. Todd Pletcher and Owner Frank Stronach then decided that Harlem Rocker was not suited to the artificial racing surface and that the Queen's Plate would not be in his best interest.
After shipping back to Belmont Park
to train with Todd Pletcher
, Harlem Rocker returned to racing on dirt July 13, finishing first at the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Following his appearance in Canada, Harlem Rocker returned to the United States in August to appear at the 2008 Travers Stakes in Saratoga. Going up against one of the largest fields in recent history (12 horses), Harlem Rocker finished a respectable 4th. Beaten out by a nose for 3rd place by Pyro. Harlem Rocker came out of the race in healthy condition.
Harlem Rocker raced at Aqueduct Raceway in November 2008 for the Cigar Mile. A race of 1 mile at the track where he won the Withers Stakes in April. Harlem Rocker faced a field of nine other horses and battled down the front stretch against Tale of Ekati
. Harlem Rocker finished first in the photo finish of the race, but was then disqualified to second place due to interference with Tale of Ekati. The stewards deemed that Harlem Rocker's move to the inside rail impacted Tale of Ekati's race. Tale of Ekati was awarded the win after a lengthy review.
Harlem Rocker has been nominated to the Dubai World Cup 2009.
Following the finish of the 2008 racing season, Harlem Rocker experienced abdominal discomfort and was sent for treatment at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala. He was scheduled to be returned to training in July, but a respiratory ailment was spotted, and he underwent a "tie-back" surgery, or laryngeal hemiplegia to correct the issue.
Harlem Rocker made his return to racing as a 4 year old in November at Churchill Downs where he finished second in an Allowance Race. Harlem Rocker has made his first start as a 5 year old facing Quality Road
at Gulfstream Park
in the Hal's Hope Grade 3 Stakes Race. He finished in 4th place after being bumped at the start.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
racehorse owned by Adena Springs Racing Venture, a partnership headed by Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach, CM is an Austrian-Canadian businessman. He is the founder of Magna International, an international automotive parts company based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, and Magna Entertainment Corp., which specializes in horse-racing entertainment...
. He was bred by Adena Springs at their Aurora, Ontario
Aurora, Ontario
Aurora is an affluent town in York Region, approximately 20 km north of Toronto. It is partially situated on the Oak Ridges Moraine, and is a part of the Greater Toronto Area and Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario.Many Aurora residents commute to Toronto and surrounding communities.In the...
division. He is the son of Macho Uno
Macho Uno
Macho Uno is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He was sired by the 1994 American Horse of the Year and U.S...
who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile
Breeders' Cup Juvenile
The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup World Championships....
in 2000.
Harlem Rocker has been ridden exclusively by Jockey Eibar Coa
Eibar Coa
Eibar Coa Monteverde is a jockey in American Thoroughbred horse racing. A five-time judo champion in his teens, he attended jockey school from 1989 to 1991 then began his professional riding career in 1992...
and is trained by Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher is a leading American thoroughbred horse trainer. He has won four consecutive Eclipse Awards as outstanding Trainer of the Year, while topping the leader board in purse earnings in 2004, 2005, and 2006. His horse Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby, the first of his 24 horses...
.
Harlem Rocker's racing career began at Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
where, after stumbling out of the gate, he rallied on the front stretch to win his maiden race. This race introduced us to Harlem Rocker as the Gray Closer, a horse who stalks the early speed and then upon reaching the front stretch, unleashes his speed to catch, and hopefully pass, the front runners.
After his maiden win, Harlem Rocker finished first in an Allowance Race, also at Gulfstream, in preparation for a start in the Grade III
Graded stakes race
A graded stakes race is a term applied since 1973 by the American Graded Stakes Committee of the Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Association to thoroughbred horse races in the United States and Canada to describe races that derive their name from the stake, or entry fee, owners must pay...
Withers Stakes
Withers Stakes
The Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000...
. Harlem Rocker won the Withers on April 26, 2008 over a field of 3 other horses, including favorite J Be K. Having won his first three starts, there was much speculation that Harlem Rocker would follow the path of Bernardini
Bernardini
Bernardini is a thoroughbred race horse foaled on March 23, 2003 at Darley Stable in Kentucky. A son of A.P. Indy, he is out of Cara Rafaela who won almost a million dollars over the course of her racing career...
(2006 Preakness Winner), and challenge Big Brown
Big Brown
Big Brown is a retired champion American Thoroughbred racehorse and winner of the 2008 Kentucky Derby and 2008 Preakness Stakes. Bred by Dr. Gary B. Knapp's Monticule Farms in Lexington, Kentucky, he won his first five race starts. He was sired by Grade III winner Boundary, a son of North American...
in the 2008 Preakness Stakes
Preakness Stakes
The Preakness Stakes is an American flat Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds held on the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs on dirt. Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds ; fillies 121 lb...
. However, owner Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach
Frank Stronach, CM is an Austrian-Canadian businessman. He is the founder of Magna International, an international automotive parts company based in Aurora, Ontario, Canada, and Magna Entertainment Corp., which specializes in horse-racing entertainment...
decided to direct Harlem Rocker towards the Queen's Plate, the first of three races that make up the Canadian Triple Crown.
Harlem Rocker raced in the Plate Trial at Woodbine Racetrack, a prep race for the Queen's Plate. Going in as the betting favorite, Harlem Rocker finished 4th on the synthetic surface known as polytrack. Todd Pletcher and Owner Frank Stronach then decided that Harlem Rocker was not suited to the artificial racing surface and that the Queen's Plate would not be in his best interest.
After shipping back to Belmont Park
Belmont Park
Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905...
to train with Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher
Todd Pletcher is a leading American thoroughbred horse trainer. He has won four consecutive Eclipse Awards as outstanding Trainer of the Year, while topping the leader board in purse earnings in 2004, 2005, and 2006. His horse Super Saver won the 2010 Kentucky Derby, the first of his 24 horses...
, Harlem Rocker returned to racing on dirt July 13, finishing first at the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown.
Following his appearance in Canada, Harlem Rocker returned to the United States in August to appear at the 2008 Travers Stakes in Saratoga. Going up against one of the largest fields in recent history (12 horses), Harlem Rocker finished a respectable 4th. Beaten out by a nose for 3rd place by Pyro. Harlem Rocker came out of the race in healthy condition.
Harlem Rocker raced at Aqueduct Raceway in November 2008 for the Cigar Mile. A race of 1 mile at the track where he won the Withers Stakes in April. Harlem Rocker faced a field of nine other horses and battled down the front stretch against Tale of Ekati
Tale Of Ekati
Tale of Ekati is a retired Canadian Thoroughbred racehorse. The brown colt's sire is Tale of the Cat by leading sire Storm Cat...
. Harlem Rocker finished first in the photo finish of the race, but was then disqualified to second place due to interference with Tale of Ekati. The stewards deemed that Harlem Rocker's move to the inside rail impacted Tale of Ekati's race. Tale of Ekati was awarded the win after a lengthy review.
Harlem Rocker has been nominated to the Dubai World Cup 2009.
Following the finish of the 2008 racing season, Harlem Rocker experienced abdominal discomfort and was sent for treatment at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala. He was scheduled to be returned to training in July, but a respiratory ailment was spotted, and he underwent a "tie-back" surgery, or laryngeal hemiplegia to correct the issue.
Harlem Rocker made his return to racing as a 4 year old in November at Churchill Downs where he finished second in an Allowance Race. Harlem Rocker has made his first start as a 5 year old facing Quality Road
Quality Road
Quality Road is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Bred and raced by Edward P. Evans, his sire is World record setter, Elusive Quality, who also sired 2004 Kentucky Derby/Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones and 2008 Breeders' Cup Classic winner, Raven's Pass...
at Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park
Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America....
in the Hal's Hope Grade 3 Stakes Race. He finished in 4th place after being bumped at the start.
Racing career
| Date | Race | Track | Location | Distance | Surface | Purse | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 14, 2008 | Maiden Special Weight | Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America.... |
Hallandale Beach, Florida Hallandale Beach, Florida Hallandale Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, a worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,113... |
7 fur. | Dirt | $40,000 | 1st |
| March 30, 2008 | Allowance | Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America.... |
Hallandale Beach, Florida Hallandale Beach, Florida Hallandale Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, a worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,113... |
1 mi. | Dirt | $42,500 | 1st |
| April 26, 2008 | Withers Stakes Withers Stakes The Withers Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race for three-year-olds willing to compete one mile on the dirt. Held at Aqueduct Racetrack every year at the end of April , it is a Grade III event, and offers a purse of $150,000... |
Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:... |
New York City, New York | 1 mi. | Dirt | $142,500 | 1st |
| June 1, 2008 | Plate Trial Stakes Plate Trial Stakes The Plate Trial Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred flat horserace for three-Year-Olds, foaled in Canada run annually at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario... |
Woodbine Racetrack Woodbine Racetrack Woodbine Racetrack is a Canadian racetrack for Thoroughbred horse races located at 555 Rexdale Blvd. in the city of Toronto, Ontario. It is the only horseracing track in North America which stages, or is capable of staging, thoroughbred and standardbred horseracing programs on the same day... |
Toronto, Ontario | 1⅛ mi. | Polytrack Polytrack A synthetic racetrack surface is any kind of surface substance that replaces grass, dirt or sand as the racing surface on a horse racing track. Synthetic surfaces may be desirable over traditional surfaces for several reasons, most prominently the reduction of injuries and possible deaths to horses... |
$151,781 | 4th |
| July 13, 2008 | Prince of Wales Stakes Prince of Wales Stakes The Prince of Wales Stakes is a Canadian Thoroughbred horse race run annually at Fort Erie Race Track in Fort Erie, Ontario. Restricted to three-year-old horses bred in Canada, it is contested on dirt over a distance of a mile and three sixteenths . In 1959, the Prince of Wales Stakes became the... |
Fort Erie Racetrack | Fort Erie, Ontario Fort Erie, Ontario Fort Erie is a town on the Niagara River in the Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada. It is located directly across the river from Buffalo, New York.... |
11/16 mi. | Dirt | $495,400 | 1st |
| August 23, 2008 | Travers Stakes Travers Stakes The Travers Stakes is an American Grade I Thoroughbred horse race held at Saratoga Race Course in Saratoga Springs, New York.First held in 1864, it was named for William R. Travers, the president of the old Saratoga Racing Association. His horse, Kentucky, won the first running of the Travers... |
Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course Saratoga Race Course is a Thoroughbred horse racing track in Saratoga Springs, New York, United States. It opened on August 3, 1863, and is the oldest organized sporting venue of any kind in the United States. It is typically open for racing from late July through early September.-History:John... |
Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs, New York Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ... |
1¼ mi. | Dirt | $1,000,000 | 4th |
| October 5, 2008 | Jerome Handicap Jerome Handicap The Jerome Stakes is a Grade II race for thoroughbred horses run each fall at one mile on the dirt at Belmont Park. It is open to three-year-olds and carries a purse of $150,000. The race is a prep race to several races of the Breeders' Cup.... |
Belmont Park Belmont Park Belmont Park is a major thoroughbred horse-racing facility located in Elmont in the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, on Long Island adjoining New York City. It first opened on May 4, 1905... |
Elmont, New York Elmont, New York Elmont is an unincorporated census-designated place located in the northwest corner of the Town of Hempstead in Nassau County, New York, along its border with the borough of Queens in New York City... |
1 mi. | Dirt | $150,000 | 3rd |
| November 29, 2008 | Cigar Mile Handicap Cigar Mile Handicap The Cigar Mile Handicap is an American race for thoroughbred horses at Aqueduct Racetrack in New York. Run annually in late November, it is named in honor of the U.S. Hall of Fame horse Cigar, who won the race in 1994 when it was known as the NYRA Mile. Renamed in 1997 following Cigar's retirement,... |
Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack Aqueduct Racetrack is a thoroughbred horse-racing facility and racino in Ozone Park, Queens, New York. Its racing meets usually are from late October/early November through April.-History:... |
New York City, New York | 1 mi. | Dirt | $300,000 | 2nd |
| November 14, 2009 | Allowance Optional Claiming | Churchill Downs Churchill Downs Churchill Downs, located in Central Avenue in south Louisville, Kentucky, United States, is a Thoroughbred racetrack most famous for hosting the Kentucky Derby annually. It officially opened in 1875, and held the first Kentucky Derby and the first Kentucky Oaks in the same year. Churchill Downs... |
Louisville, Kentucky Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096... |
7 fur. | Dirt | $56,000 | 2nd |
| January 3, 2010 | Hal's Hope Handicap Hal's Hope Handicap The Hal's Hope Stakes is a Thoroughbred horse race run at Gulfstream Park located in Hallandale Beach, Florida, the first graded stakes race run at Gulfstream each year... |
Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino is a racetrack and county-approved racino in Hallandale Beach, Florida, in the United States. During its annual meet, which spans December through April, it is one of the most important venues for horse racing in America.... |
Hallandale Beach, Florida Hallandale Beach, Florida Hallandale Beach is a city in Broward County, Florida, United States. The city is named after Luther Halland, a worker for Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railroad. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,113... |
1 mi. | Dirt | $100,000 | 4th |