Quality ‘Rocks’ in Arlington-Washington Lassie

Quality Rocks is headed to Bill Mott’s shedrow following her A-W Lassie victory (Four Footed Fotos)

Destiny Oaks of Ocala’s homebred Quality Rocks lived up to her named on
Saturday when moving her record to a perfect two-for-two with a 3 1/2-length
score in the $100,000

Arlington-Washington Lassie.

Jockey Rosemary Homeister Jr. was aboard the Bill Helmbrecht pupil as she
stalked the pacesetting Sarah Six through opening fractions of :23 1/5 and :47
1/5. Entering the stretch the duo were running stride for stride, but Quality
Rocks was going better than her rival and drew off to complete seven furlongs in
1:24 4/5 over Arlington‘s
Polytrack.

“She broke really sharp,” Homeister said. “I figured (Sarah Sis) and (Puntsville)
had the speed. They told me she had good speed and if I could get her to relax a
little bit that she’d finish for me.

“When (Sarah Sis) went, I just took my filly back and she just settled
beautifully. They did a great job conditioning this filly and when I asked her
in the stretch she was gone. She kept running and she was focused when she got
the lead.”

Quality Rocks was the 4-1 second pick to even-money favorite Sarah Sis, and
returned $10.40 for beating the public’s choice. It was another 3 1/4 lengths
back to Happy to Go, while Puntsville finished out the top four under the wire.
Susan’s Day, Lemon Gala and Sugar Talk completed the order of finish.

“She ran a beautiful race, she was just more nervous today
than the last time, the first time she ran,” jockey Julio Felix said of his trip
aboard the beaten favorite. “I think she ran her race a little before the race.
She got tired today; it was the first time she got challenged, that we asked her
to do anything. She just got a little tired, and the filly that beat us is a
nice horse.”