Harlem Rocker gets first winner in only crop

Harlem Rocker stood only one season at stud before a spinal cord compression led to his being pensioned (WEG/Michael Burns Photography)

Canadian classic winner Harlem Rocker recorded his first winner, from
his only small crop, when G-Team Racing Stable’s Rock My Dreams captured
Thursday’s
6TH
race at Arlington.

Dropping into a $62,500 maiden claimer after five tries in maiden special
weights, the Thomas Swearingen juvenile got the job done by a length. Jockey
Rosemary Homeister Jr. carved out a pace-chasing trip aboard the 3-2 favorite,
who negotiated five Polytrack furlongs in :59 2/5.

The gray filly was bred in Illinois by T/C Stable and sold for $40,000 as a
Keeneland September yearling. She is the second registered foal from the winning
Two Punch mare Out of My Dreams, whose firstborn is stakes scorer Sing the
Dream.

Harlem Rocker, an Adena Springs homebred who raced for Stronach Stables, was
among the leading three-year-olds of 2008. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the gray
won his first three starts, capped by the Withers. He flirted with trying the
Preakness before connections decided to point for the Queen’s Plate.

Accordingly, Harlem Rocker ventured to Woodbine for the Plate Trial, and he
suffered his first loss when fourth on the Polytrack. He rebounded back on dirt
to land the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie.

Subsequently fourth in the Travers and third in the Jerome, Harlem Rocker
nearly crowned his season with a Grade 1 trophy. He crossed the wire first in the Cigar Mile, only to be demoted to second for
interfering with Tale of Ekati. He was sidelined for a year thereafter, but did
not win in four starts during his comeback and ultimately retired to stud with a mark of
12-4-2-1, $597,649.