BY BROCK SHERIDAN

Seventh in his last two against graded stakes rivals, Florida-bred Rockies Balboa split horses coming out of the turn and took over in the run for home to win a second condition, $80,000 optional claiming at Keeneland Saturday. In defeating nine other 3-year-olds and older going six furlongs, Rockies Balboa earned the $52,313 winner’s share of the $95,500 purse plus a $3,000 Export Incentive for the out-of-state victory paid by the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association to breeder Tonya Hunt of Lowell, Florida.

Ridden from post eight by Flavien Prat, Rockies Balboa popped to the lead from the start but settled just off Classic Time and Track Phantom to his inside for the run down the backstretch. Classic Time clipped off a :22.76 quarter-mile while getting to the front around the turn with Rockies Balboa just to his outside in second and Ship Ship Hooray getting close in third on the outside. Classic Time, Rockies Balboa, Ship Ship Hooray and Raymond were four across the track as the timer hit :46.44 for the half-mile then Prat hustled Rockies Balboa to a narrow lead at the top of the lane. Rockies Balboa put away Classic Time a furlong out then came home a length in front in 1:11.08 on the fast track. Creole Chrome rallied from fifth to get second, a length-a-half faster than Classic Time in third. Market Street, Ship Ship Hooray, Jefferson Street, Camp Hale, Raymond and Track Phantom completed the order of finish.

Trained by Dale Romans for Charles Monfort, America’s Pastime Stables, Jeffrey Bloom’s Bloom Racing and Edwin S. Barker, Rockies Balboa paid $18.40 to win.

Making his first in two-and-a-half months when seventh in both the six-and-a-half furlong Amsterdam (G2) on July 31 and five-and-a-half furlong Quick Call on grass, both at Saratoga Race Course, Rockies Balboa won for the third time in nine starts this year. He won a first condition allowance race at Gulfstream going seven furlongs on January 29 and a first condition, $100,000 optional claiming over a sloppy and sealed six-and-a-half furlongs at Churchill Downs on June 25.

The 3-year-old son of Girvin has now won four of 13 career starts with three seconds, taking home $234,294.

Rockies Balboa was a $150,000 purchase by Bloom as an agent for Charles Monfort and Brian Spagnola at the 2025 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale where he was consigned by Randy Miles. He is out of Toni Ann’s Miracle, by Hear No Evil.

Return to the October 17 issue of Wire to Wire