Rock Fall smashes True North foes

Rock Fall is now five-for-six after his first stakes win in the True North (David Alcosser/Adam Coglianese Photography)

Although lacking experience in stakes company, Rock Fall (Speightstown) was a
well-backed favorite in Friday’s $250,000
True North (G2) at Belmont Park. The
6-5 favorite justified the favoritism with a sparkling win for owner Stonestreet
Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher.

A tracking third as Favorite Tale (Tale of the Cat) recovered from an early
stumble to lead through an opening quarter in :22 1/5, Rock Fall began to close
in on that leader around the far turn. Grabbing a half-length lead after a half
in :45, Rock Fall pulled clear down the lane to win by 3 3/4 lengths in a swift
1:08 1/5 for six furlongs on a fast track.

Ridden by Javier Castellano, Rock Fall returned $4.40.

Stallwalkin’ Dude (City Place) rallied from the back to finish second by a
neck over Dads Caps (Discreet Cat). Eastwood (Speightstown) ran fourth and was
followed by Favorite Tale, Clearly Now (Horse Greeley), and Tenango (Lion
Heart). Captain Serious (Successful Appeal) was scratched.

Rock Fall’s April 2014 debut at Gulfstream Park has been his only setback. A
distant eighth of 10 that day, he rebounded to beat maiden and allowance
company, both over six furlongs at Belmont, by margins of 9 1/4 lengths and 3
1/4 lengths, respectively. Sidelined from June until March 15, Rock Fall
returned a winner by a length in a second-level allowance at Gulfstream, and
entered this off a nine-length romp against third-level allowance foes at
Keeneland. He’s now earned $299,180.