Rockefeller took the lead right out the starting gate and was never seriously threatened on his way to posting a two-and-three-quarter length victory in the G3 Nashua Stakes at Belmont Park Nov. 7.
It was the first Graded Stakes win for the two-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt, who entered the race off a fourth-place finish to G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner, Corniche, in the G1 American Pharoah Stakes Oct. 1.
Ridden by jockey Luis Saez, Rockefeller zipped out of the starting gate and took an early lead while being pressed by Speaking through the opening quarter mile. Rockefeller continued to show the way through the far turn. Rival Cooke Creek ranged up to challenge in the stretch, but Rockefeller easily shrugged that rival off and pulled away to win comfortably.
Bred in Kentucky by Colts Neck Stables LLC, Rockefeller is out multiple Graded Stakes winner, Dance to Bristol (G1 Ballerina, G2 Honorable Miss, etc.), and hails from the female family of Graded Stakes winners General Assembly (G1), Chief Honcho (G1), American Chance (G2) and Expressive Dance (G3).
In addition to Rockefeller, Medaglia d’Oro is represented in 2021 by additional Graded Stakes winners Navratilova (G3), Souper Escape (G3), Vigilantes Way (G3), Risk Taking (G3), Moonlight d’Oro (G3) and Beautiful Gift (G3).
