Messier Has It Easy In Bob Hope At Del Mar

After a last-out victory in a maiden special weight race at Santa Anita Park, Messier made a successful move up to stakes company in the Grade 3 Bob Hope at Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, biding his time early and drawing away late to win by three lengths.

In a short field of four, Bob Baffert had a strong hand with Messier, Kamui, and Winning Map, who went to the lead out of the gate, trading the frontrunner status with Richard Mandella's Forbidden Kingdom down the backstretch. Messier hung back in last, relaxed behind a fast pace, the first quarter in :21.40 and the half-mile in :43.23.

Around the far turn, Messier went to the outside of the two front runners, pulling even with them as they entered the stretch. Down the Del Mar stretch, those early quick fractions took their toll on Forbidden Kingdom and Winning Map who tired as Messier quickened his pace and passed them to win easily. Forbidden Kingdom was second, Winning Map third, and Kamui was fourth.

The final time for the seven-furlong Bob Hope was 1:22.74. Find this race's chart here.

Messier paid $4.40 and $2.60. Forbidden Kingdom paid $4.00. With only four starters, this race did not have any show betting.

Bred in Ontario by Sam-Son Farm, Messier is a 2-year-old colt by Empire Maker out of the Smart Strike mare Checkered Past, a listed stakes winner at Woodbine. He is owned by Golconda Stable, Madaket Stables LLC, SF Racing LLC, Siena Farm LLC, Starlight Racing, Waves Edge Capital LLC, Catherine Donovan, Robert E. Masterson, and Jay A. Schoenfarber. Messier was consigned by Sam-Son Farm and sold to SF/Starlight/Madaket for $470,000 at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearling Showcase. With his win in the G3 Bob Hope, the 2-year-old has two wins in three starts for career earnings of $105,600.

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Rockefeller Rockets To Graded Stakes Victory In Nashua

In his third career start, Rockefeller improved on his last-out fourth-place finish behind Grade 1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Corniche in the American Pharoah Stakes and won the G3 Nashua Stakes on the closing day card at Belmont Park in Elmont, N.Y. The son of Medaglia d'Oro withstood early pressure from Speaking and pulled away in the stretch to win by 2 3/4 lengths.

Breaking from post one, Rockefeller and Luis Saez went straight to the lead, with Speaking pressing to his outside, a half-length off the lead. Around the far turn, Rockefeller extended his lead to a length, as Speaking began to tire and the field attempted to catch up with the leader.

In the stretch, Cooke Creek and Judge Davis put in their closing bids, but the Baffert-trained Rockefeller easily pulled away from the field, stretching his lead out in the race's final furlong. The final time for the one-mile G3 Nashua Stakes was 1:36.66. Cooke Creek and Judge Davis were second and third. Midnight Worker, Cairama, and Speaking rounded out the field.

Find this race's chart here.

Rockefeller paid $3.60, $3.30, and $2.40. Cooke Creek paid $5.50 and $3.60. Judge Davis paid $2.70.

Bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables, Rockefeller is out of the Speightstown mare Dance to Bristol, a multiple graded stakes winner. He is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Stonestreet Stables, and Robert E. Masterson. The 2-year-old colt was consigned by Mill Ridge Sales and sold to SF/Starlight/Madaket for $750,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. With his win in the Nashua, Rockefeller has two wins in three starts for career earnings of $142,500.

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