Frank’s Rockette cruises to Hurricane Bertie S. (G3) victory

For the second time in as many starts, Frank’s Rockette was a blowout winner of a graded stakes at Gulfstream Park, the latest coming on March 11 in the $125,000 Hurricane Bertie S. (G3).

The 6-year-old daughter of Into Mischief was as good as ever on Saturday. She stalked the pace for just over three furlongs, then when asked by jockey Junior Alvarado, went three-wide and went by the frontrunners with little resistance. She was all alone in the stretch and geared down in the final sixteenth to get the 6 ½-furlongs in 1:16.81 on a fast track.

Her 101 Beyer Speed Figure is her fifth triple-digit number in her last six starts.

“Our filly did her job. She loves this racetrack,” trainer Bill Mott said. “We had options to go some other places but given the fact that she won her so easily last time and she likes the track, we just felt, ‘Bring her back.’ Unfortunately, the owner is from Arkansas and would like to see his horses run in Hot Springs. This was my first option, and he let us do it.”

The owner Mott was referring to is Frank Fletcher, who also bred Frank’s Rockette from the Indian Charlie mare Rocket Twentyone. The winner now has five graded victories, nine overall stakes wins, and is 11-9-3 in 26 starts, with earnings of $1,301,533.

Into Mischief had a pair of stakes winners Saturday, upping his total this year to 11. He is currently the only sire on the 2023 General List with more than $5 million in progeny earnings.