Rockport Harbor has stylish return
Posted on Sunday, February 12, 2006
HOT SPRINGS — He’s back. On a day reminiscent of the most dismal performance of his career, Rockport Harbor may have delivered his best performance, grinding out a front-running comeback victory in the $ 100, 000 Grade III Essex Handicap for older horses Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn Park. Rockport Harbor, the evenmoney favorite of 17, 118 chilled
1 fans, finished 2 / 4 lengths ahead of Thunder Mission, while it was a neck back to Silver Axe in third. Cougar Cat, who drew abreast of Rockport Harbor on the outside in the upper stretch, finished a weakening fourth.
Rockport Harbor paid $ 4, $ 3. 80 and $ 3. 20. Thunder Mission paid $ 9. 40 and $ 5. 60. Silver Axe paid $ 6. 60.
Following Cougar Cat were Greater Good, Matched, Real Dandy and Jonesboro.
The Essex marked the highly anticipated 4-year-old debut for Rockport Harbor, who hadn’t started since finishing sixth in the $ 325, 000 Grade II Lexington Stakes on April 23 at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky., a setback on an equally raw afternoon that eliminated the popular gray colt from Triple Crown consideration.
“It’s just been so long,” said owner Rick Porter, who was sporting his trademark bow tie following Rockport Harbor ‘s fifth victory in seven lifetime starts. “The anticipation of nine or 10 months — whatever it’s been — worrying if he was going to get back, it’s fantastic.
“ You always have in the back of your mind : Is he going to come back the way we left him when he was running at the top of his game ?
“ I’d say it [the Essex victory ] ranks right up there. Hopefully, it’s a stepping stone to some really good things to come.”
It was the third stakes victory for Rockport Harbor, but his first trip to the winner’s circle since the Grade II Remsen Stakes on Nov. 27, 2004, at Aqueduct in New York.
Rockport Harbor’s right hind foot was severely gashed early in the race, an injury that essentially wiped out his 3-yearold campaign.
In his only other start last year, Rockport Harbor finished second, beaten a half-length by Greater Good, in the $ 250, 000 Grade III Rebel Stakes on March 19 at Oaklawn.
Tactically, the Essex was a replay of the Rebel, expect Rockport Harbor had plenty left at the finish after stealing off with soft fractions under regular rider Stewart Elliott.
Rockport Harbor took the field through an opening quarter-mile of : 24. 09 and was coasting on a 4-length lead following a half-mile in : 48. 07.
Trainer John Servis said he was surprised by the fractions, theorizing the opposition was fooled by Rockport Harbor’s ability to click off eighths of a mile in 12 seconds with his long stride.
“As wired up as the 8 horse [Thunder Mission ] was in the paddock, I expected him to be out there on the engine,” Servis said. “I guess maybe they just thought first time out in such a long time, maybe he’d come back to them.”
For an instant, it appeared that would happen.
A tracking second under Robby Albarado, Cougar Cat pulled within 2 lengths after three-quarters of a mile in 1 : 14. 07, then drew even near the threesixteenths pole.
But in the final furlong, Rockport Harbor began to edge away. Elliott hit the son of Unbridled’s Song right-handed passing the eighth pole and twice more left-handed in the run to the wire. “When he stuck his head back in front, I was pretty confident because I know he doesn’t give up,” Elliott said. “When that horse didn’t go right by me, I was pretty confident that we were going to be tough to beat.” Carrying 115 pounds, Rockport
1 Harbor ran the 1 / 16 miles over a good track in 1 : 47. 68.
While the final time was slightly slower than 3-year-old maiden-allowance males ran about 45 minutes earlier, nobody in Rockport Harbor’s camp was complaining about this fight.
“He’s not dead fit, but he was fit enough that I thought he would run very well,” Servis said. “But the big thing with him is mentally. This race is going to move this horse way up.”
A $ 470, 000 yearling purchase, Rockport Harbor has earned $ 320, 300 for Porter, a semiretired automobile dealer from Wilmington, Del.
Servis said Rockport Harbor will now be pointed toward the $ 150, 000 Grade III Razorback Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Oaklawn on March 12.
The major spring objective is the $ 500, 000 Grade II Oaklawn Handicap on April 8.
“We’ve still to some room to improve as far as fitness goes,” Servis said. “I mean, we’ve still got more work to do with him. Although this track today, as deep and tiring as it was, I’m sure this race will do a ton for him.”
In other words, he’s back.
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