Rocketry

Rocketry broke his maiden in his fourth career start and spent much of the next year competing at the allowance level, finishing unplaced in his three graded stakes tries.

In late September 2018 Rocketry impressed with a win in the 1 5/8 miles Temperence Hill Invitational at Belmont Park. His final time of 2:40.18 broke a 98-year-old track record at the distance, previously set by the legendary Man o' War in 1920.

After that remarkable performance, Rocketry was sent to Churchill Downs for his next start which came in the Grade 2 Marathon Stakes on Breeders' Cup Friday. Sent off the 2-1 favorite, Rocketry settled in last position but rallied to engage pacesetter Dabster in the stretch. After a lengthy duel, Rocketry emerged the victor, tallying his first career graded stakes win.

Rocketry was winless in six starts in 2019 but he did finish in the top three in three different stakes, including a runner-up finish by a half-length in the Grade 2 Woodford Reserve Brooklyn Invitational Stakes in June.

Unplaced in his first start after a nine-month layoff in June 2020 at Saratoga, Rocketry subsequently ran third in both the Birdstone Stakes in August at Saratoga and the Miner’s Mark Stakes in September at Belmont Park.

He returned to graded stakes competition Nov. 6 at Keeneland on the “Future Stars Friday” Breeders’ Cup card in the Grade 2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance Stakes at 1 5/8 miles. Rocketry closed from last to first, surging to the front in deep stretch, to halt a nine-race winless stretch.