BY BROCK SHERIDAN
A runner-up against fellow Florida-bred stakes horses in his last two races, Rockies Balboa departs his native Sunshine State for Churchill Downs where he lines up in a first condition, $125,000 optional claiming Friday. Nine 3-year-olds will race six furlongs for the winner’s share of the $127,000 purse in the day’s featured eighth race.
A five-length winner of a first level allowance race for Florida-breds going six furlongs at Gulfstream Park on January 29, Rockies Balboa was unsuccessful against some of the best in his class next out when ninth in the Grade 2 Coolmore Fountain of Youth won by Commandment at Gulfstream on February 28.
Trainer Dale Romans next took him to Tampa Bay Downs for the Florida Cup on March 29 when he finished second to Florida-bred Maykomotion in the $98,000 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Sophomore going seven furlongs. He returned to Gulfstream Park on April 25, again to face Florida-breds, in the $100,000 FHBPA Sophomore Sprint, this time finishing second to My Boy Star at six furlongs.
Rockies Balboa has earned $121,865 for an ownership group that includes Charles Montfort, America’s Pastime Stables, Jeffrey Bloom’s Bloom Racing Stable LLC and Edwin S. Barker. He is by Girvin out of Toni Ann’s Miracle, by Hear No Evil and was bred in Florida by Tonya Hunt.
He is 10-1 on the morning line and will be guided from post three by Corey Lanerie.
Rockies Balboa will begin from the immediate right of 2-1 morning line favorite Munnings Challenge, who breaks from post two with jockey Jose Ortiz.
Munnings Challenge arrives at Churchill Downs from Oaklawn Park where he most recently broke his maiden in his second career start by five lengths for trainer Brad Cox.
Novogratz Racing Stables owns Munnings Challenge, who has banked $88,000. He was second in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Oaklawn in his first race on March 1.
Others included in the field are Small Town with Flavien Prat named to ride, Gun Range has Florent Geroux in the saddle, Tyler Gaffalione takes the reins on Hammond, Sav’n Money will be ridden by Adam Beschizza, Luis Saez rides Vaporizer, Doublecents and jockey Cristian Torres and American Man has Irad Ortiz Jr. up.
Return to the May 27 issue of Wire to Wire
