BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Unsuccessful in his first try on turf in the Grade 3 Quick Call presented by Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation last out, Florida-bred Rockies Balboa returns to the main track Friday in the $250,000 Amsterdam (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. The Dale Romans trainee will line up against seven other 3-year-olds in the six-and-a-half furlongs tilt.
A victory outside Florida at this level by Rockies Balboa would also produce a $5,000 Export Incentive for breeder Tonya Hunt paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association.
Rockies Balboa was never a factor in the July 19 Quick Call on the Saratoga grass, passing tiring horses late to finish seventh behind winner Learntodiscover.
Prior to the Quick Call, he produced a length victory in a first condition, $125,000 optional claiming over a sloppy six-and-a-half furlongs at Churchill Downs on June 25. That came after finishing fifth under the same conditions going six furlongs on a fast track there on May 29.
He won two straight at Gulfstream Park over the winter including a nearly six-length victory in a maiden $50,000 optional claiming in December and a five-length domination of a state-bred allowance going seven furlongs in January. He was off the board in the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth on February 29 before finishing second in two state bred stakes, the $98,000 OBS Sophomore at Tampa Bay Downs in March and the $100,000 FHBPA Sophomore Sprint at Gulfstream in April.
From three wins and three seconds in 11 career starts, Rockies Balboa has earned $178,231 for owners Charles Monfort, America’s Pastime Stables, Jeffrey Bloom’s Bloom Racing and Edwin S. Barker. Bloom as an agent for Monfort and Brian Spagnola, purchased Rockies Balboa for $150,000 at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by Randy Miles.
Rockies Balboa is by Girvin out of Toni Ann’s Miracle, by Hear No Evil.
Romans has given the riding assignment to Manny Franco and they have drawn the outside post eight.
The expected favorite is Obliteration, winner of the $150,000 Chick Lang (Listed) going six furlongs at Laurel Park on May 16 before finishing third in the seven-furlong Woody Stephens (G1) won by Englishman at Saratoga on June 6.
Obliteration started the year taking the $150,000 Renaissance by seven-and-a-half lengths at Oaklawn Park in January then traveled to Riyadh for the $1.5 million Saudi Derby presented by ZOOD Realty (G3) at King Abdulaziz Racecourse where he finished second to Al Haram (Ire) on February 14.
By Violence, Obliteration has earned $1,043,550 for Leland Ackerly Racing, James Sherwood, Jode Shupe and John Cilia.
He has post seven and jockey Jose Ortiz.
Completing the Amsterdam entries are American Man with Flavien Prat named to ride, Local Knowledge will have John Velazquez in the irons, Irad Ortiz Jr. rides Solitude Dude, Gilded Bandit and jockey Junior Alvarado, Ricardo Santana Jr. guides White Smoke Rising and Luis Saez has the assignment on Lincoln’s Law.
Return to the July 28 issue of Wire to Wire
