HORSE RACING: Rotknee looks to stay hot in John Morrissey

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. — Consistent excellence in the New York-bred stakes sprinting program has been the story for Rotknee for more than two years now. With a pair of state-bred stakes wins this year ⎯ and a total of six such scores since March 2022 ⎯ Rotknee is expected to be formidable once again in today’s $125,000 John Morrissey Handicap, a six-furlong dash for 3-year-old and up New York-breds at Saratoga Race Course.

Trained by Mike Maker for owner William J. Butler, 5-year-old Rotknee won the Say Florida Sandy in Jan. and Affirmed Success in May, in addition to past scores in the Hudson (Oct. 2023), Ontario County (June 2022), Mike Lee (May 2022), and Damon Runyon (March 2022).

Last out, Rotknee stalked the pace before finishing fourth in the 6 1/2-furlong Grade 2 True North on June 8 during the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival. It marked his third career graded attempt, including a third in the Grade 3 Fall Highweight Handicap in Nov. at Aqueduct. Maker said he looks forward to Rotknee’s return to state-bred, company where he has proven to fit in nicely.

“The True North (result) was probably just open company and the fast pace last time,” Maker explained. “Looking for a similar trip to the last race this time. He is a very aggressive horse. He’s training forwardly into this.”

Rotknee, who boasts a 10-3-1 record from 20 starts with $661,580 in earnings, has worked back at Belmont Park five times since his last effort, including a five-furlong breeze in 1:01.61 on July 28. Irad Ortiz, Jr. will be aboard from post 5 carrying a field-high 126 pounds. He is the 8-5 favorite on the morning line.

Light Man (post 3, Kendrick Carmouche, 9-2) will step into stakes company for the first time in his career. Trained by Bruce Levine, the 4-year-old Central Banker gelding won on debut as a juvenile in a local 5 1/2-furlong state-bred maiden tilt in July 2022.

Light Man did not return until he was a 4-year-old but came back with a second-place effort sprinting six furlongs in a state-bred allowance in Jan. at the Big A ahead of a one-turn mile score at the same level in Feb. there.

“He’s been running hard, but this is a step up,” said Levine. “I think he’s a sprinter. The mile, he just won it on class. He was laying down the whole stretch and just gutted it out with class. I think he wants to sprint.”

Since the one-mile score, Light Man won his two subsequent outings, most recently capturing a six-furlong open allowance versus five foes on July 5 at Belmont at the Big A.

“It wasn’t a great other-than [allowance], it was just alright. This will be a big step up,” said Levine.

Ten Strike Racing’s dual stakes-winning homebred Looms Boldly enters with a field-high last-out Beyer Speed Figure of 99, earned when defeated a head by Subrogate in an open optional claimer here on June 8 Belmont Stakes Day.

Trained by dual Eclipse Award-winner Brad Cox, the 4-year-old Goldencents gelding set the pace before Subrogate took over at the top of the stretch and wouldn’t give up his narrow lead. That rival exited to earn a 106 Beyer in a next-out win before a Grade 1 attempt in the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap on July 27 at the Spa.

“He ran well in open company last time up here. He is training well,” Cox said of the horse who has breezed weekly at Belmont Park since returning to the tab on June 22.

Looms Boldly (post 6, Florent Geroux, 3-1) is 2-for-3 in state-bred stakes, taking the Damon Runyon last March at Aqueduct and the Ontario County last May at Finger Lakes– both at Thursday’s distance.

A. Bianco Holding Limited’s multiple stakes-placed Sheriff Bianco (post 2, Jose Ortiz, 4-1) has been a regular in state-bred stakes and will look to get back in the win column for trainer Linda Rice. The 6-year-old Speightster gelding hasn’t won in 13 efforts since taking an open optional claimer in April 2023 but he hit the board in the 2023 and 2024 Affirmed Success, plus last year’s Commentator, Evan Shipman Handicap, and Empire Classic.

Rounding out the field is five-time winner Factually Correct (post 4, Flavien Prat, 8-1) for conditioner Rudy Rodriguez and four-time victor Ocean’s Reserve (post 1, Manny Franco, 6-1) for trainer George Weaver.

Originally Published: August 7, 2024 at 12:35 p.m.