Classic Rock Looks to Get 'Back' on Track

Reeves Thoroughbred Racing's Classic Rock (Maclean's Music) will try to rebound off a failed effort in Belmont's GII Woody Stephens S. June 10 when he returns to his home base Saturday for Gulfstream's GIII Carry Back S. The Kathy Ritvo pupil already boasts three wins over this course, including the Roar S. at the same seven-furlong distance Apr. 21.

The Florida-bred Three Rules (Gone Astray) also has plenty of experience over the Gulfstream main track having opened his account with five straight victories in Hallandale. Runner-up in the GII Swale S. Feb. 4 and third in the GII Xpressbet.com Fountain of Youth S. Mar. 4, the dark bay checked in fifth behind subsequent GI Kentucky Derby hero Always Dreaming (Bodemeister) in the GI Xpressbet.com Florida Derby Apr. 1. He was last seen finishing third in the six-panel Chick Lang S. at Pimlico on the GI Preakness S. undercard May 20.

“He's as good as ever,” said trainer Jose Pinchin. “He's been knocking heads with the best horses this year. I think seven-eights is his ideal distance.”

Todd Pletcher can never be counted out, especially at Gulfstream, and he saddles Benefactor (More Than Ready) and Blind Ambition (Tapit) in this test. Earning his diploma over the main track here May 13 after a failed effort on turf at Belmont last fall, the dark bay checked in second in the Ocala Flame H. here June 9. A third-out graduate over this track-and-trip Apr. 29, the bay followed suit with an optional claimer victory on the local turf May 28.

“They're both well-bred horses and good-looking horses, but we just weren't positive what their preferred surface would be,” Pletcher said. “With Benefactor being a More Than Ready we thought he was one that could potentially go dirt or turf and same thing with Blind Ambition being a son of Tapit. It seemed like he could go either way, especially being out of Starfish Bay. That's why we ran him on the grass last time and it seemed like he handled it well, but I thought he was also impressive breaking his maiden going seven-eighths on the dirt.”