Rockport Harbor conquers Remsen despite
injury
Fox Hill Farm’s ROCKPORT HARBOR (Unbridled’s Song) remained
unbeaten with a gutsy victory in the $200,000 Remsen S. (G2),
leading the 1 1/8-mile contest in gate-to-wire fashion on a fast
Aqueduct track. The classy colt was tested in the final furlong
by runner-up Galloping Grocer (A.P Jet), but he was confidently
ridden throughout by Stewart Elliott. Unfortunately, Rockport
Harbor exited the Remsen with an injury to his right hind leg.
“Somebody ran up on his back end, and his back right-quarter
was just hanging,” trainer John Servis explained. “This
was going to be his last race until next year, anyway; the way it
looks, we’re probably going to have to sew it back. It was pretty
nasty looking.”
Breaking sharply from the gate, Rockport Harbor made an easy
early lead and then began to duel with Galloping Grocer over the
last six furlongs. He passed the markers in fractions of :23 4/5,
:47 1/5, 1:11, and 1:35 2/5, with Galloping Grocer hot on his
heels in the latter ones. As they neared the wire, Rockport Harbor
surged to prove clearly best, hitting the finish line in 1:48 4/5
while winning by a neck.
The victory gave Rockport Harbor’s ticket holders $4.60, $2.50
and $2.10 as the 6-5 second choice. Galloping Grocer returned $2.40
and $2.10, rounding out the meager $8.80 exacta as the slight 6-5
favorite. Killenaule (Fusaichi Pegasus) was never a factor in the
race, coming home another 8 1/4 lengths back. Stormy Jim (High
Yield), Father Weist (Pulpit) and Pavo (Marquetry) completed the
order of finish.
This is Rockport Harbor’s fourth straight win. His last was a
6 1/4-length domination of the Nashua S. (G3). The gray increased his
earnings to $210,300.
Bred in Kentucky by Heiligbrodt Racing Stables and Taylor Made
Farm Inc., Rockport Harbor was purchased for $470,000 at the
Keeneland September Yearling Sale last year. He is out of the
stakes-winning mare Regal Miss Copelan (Copelan) and is the half-brother
to an unnamed weanling by Forestry.