Harlem Rocker (foaled April 25, 2005 in

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central C ...

) is a Grade I winning

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are ...

racehorse.

Background

He was owned by Adena Springs Racing Venture, a partnership headed by Frank Stronach. He was bred by Adena Springs at their

Aurora, Ontario Aurora ( 2021 population: 62,057) is a town in central York Region in the Greater Toronto Area, within the Golden Horseshoe of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located north of the City of Richmond Hill and is partially situated on the Oak Ridg ...

division. He is the son of

Macho Uno {{Infobox racehorse , horsename = Macho Uno , image = , caption = , sire = Holy Bull , grandsire = Great Above , dam = Primal Force , damsire = Blushing Groom , sex = Stallion , foaled = 1998 , country = United States , colour = Gray ...

who won the

Breeders' Cup Juvenile The Breeders' Cup Juvenile is a Thoroughbred horse race for 2-year-old colts and geldings raced on dirt. It is held annually in late October or early November at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup W ...

in 2000. Harlem Rocker has been ridden exclusively by Jockey Eibar Coa and is trained by

Todd Pletcher Todd Pletcher (born June 26, 1967 in Dallas, Texas) is an American thoroughbred horse trainer. He won the Eclipse Award seven times as Trainer of the Year, four of these in consecutive years. His horses Super Saver (2010) and Always Dreaming (20 ...

Racing career

2008: three-year-old season

Harlem Rocker's racing career began at

Gulfstream Park Gulfstream Park, owned by The Stronach Group, is a Thoroughbred race track, casino and outdoor entertainment and shopping destination in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Thoroughbred horse racing occurs year-round, defined by three distinct race meets ...

where, after stumbling out of the gate, he rallied on the front stretch to win his maiden race. He then finished first in an allowance race, also at

Gulfstream The Gulf Stream is a warm Atlantic Ocean current. Gulf Stream or Gulfstream may also refer to: Places *Gulf Stream, Florida, a town in the United States Art, entertainment, and media *''Gulf Stream Magazine'', a literary magazine at Florida Intern ...

, in preparation for a start in the Grade III

Withers Stakes The Withers Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for three years old horses over the distance of miles on the dirt scheduled annually in February at Aqueduct Racetrack in Queens, New York. The event currently carries a purse ...

. Harlem Rocker won the Withers on April 26, 2008, over a field of 3 other horses, including favorite J Be K. There was much speculation that Harlem Rocker would follow the path of

Bernardini Bernadini can mean: * Bernardini (horse), thoroughbred race horse, at Darley Stable in Kentucky * Bernardini (company), safe manufacturer which operated from 1912 to 1992 * Bernardini (surname), family name of Italian origin See also * Bern ...

(2006 Preakness winner) and challenge Big Brown in the 2008

Preakness Stakes The Preakness Stakes is an American thoroughbred horse race held on Armed Forces Day which is also the third Saturday in May each year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland. It is a Grade I race run over a distance of 9.5 furlongs () o ...

. However, owner Frank Stronach decided to direct the colt towards the Queen's Plate, the first of three races that make up the Canadian Triple Crown. Harlem Rocker raced in the Plate Trial at Woodbine Racetrack, a prep race for the Queen's Plate. Going in as the betting favorite, he finished 4th on the synthetic surface known as polytrack. Todd Pletcher and Stronach then decided that Harlem Rocker was not suited to the artificial racing surface and that the Queen's Plate would not be in his best interest. After shipping back to Belmont Park to train with

, Harlem Rocker returned to racing on dirt July 13, finishing first at the $500,000 Prince of Wales Stakes, the second leg of the Canadian Triple Crown. Following his appearance in Canada, Harlem Rocker returned to the United States in August to appear at the 2008 Travers Stakes in Saratoga. Going up against one of the largest fields in recent history (12 horses), he finished 4th, beaten out by a nose for 3rd place by Pyro. He next raced in November in the Cigar Mile at Aqueduct Raceway, the same track where he won the Withers Stakes in April. Harlem Rocker faced a field of nine other horses and battled down the front stretch against Tale of Ekati. Harlem Rocker crossed the wire first in a photo finish but was disqualified to second place due to interference with Tale of Ekati. The stewards deemed that Harlem Rocker's move to the inside rail impacted Tale of Ekati's race. Following the finish of the 2008 racing season, Harlem Rocker experienced abdominal discomfort and was sent for treatment at the Equine Medical Center of Ocala.

Later career

He was scheduled to be returned to training in July, but a respiratory ailment was spotted, and he underwent a "tie-back" surgery, or laryngeal hemiplegia to correct the issue. Harlem Rocker made his return to racing as a 4 year old in November at Churchill Downs where he finished second in an Allowance Race. Harlem Rocker has made his first start as a 5 year old facing

Quality Road Quality Road (foaled March 23, 2006, in Virginia) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Background Quality Road was bred and owned by Edward P. Evans. He was sired by Elusive Quality, who also sired 2004 Kentucky Derby/Preakness Stakes winne ...

in the Hal's Hope Grade 3 Stakes Race. He finished in 4th place after being bumped at the start.

Race record

Pedigree

{{Pedigree , name = Harlem Rocker , f =

, m = Freedom Come , ff =

Holy Bull Holy Bull (January 24, 1991 – June 7, 2017) was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse. Although he finished a disappointing twelfth in the 1994 Kentucky Derby, his major wins that year in the Florida Derby, Blue Grass Stakes, Metropolitan Handicap, ...

, fm = Primal Force , mf =

Lit de Justice In France under the Ancien Régime, the ''lit de justice'' (, "bed of justice") was a particular formal session of the Parliament of Paris, under the presidency of the king, for the compulsory registration of the royal edicts. It was named thu ...

, mm = Zee Lady , fff = Great Above , ffm = Sharon Brown , fmf = Blushing Groom , fmm = Prime Prospect , mff =

El Gran Senor El Gran Senor (21 April 1981 – 18 October 2006) was a champion American-bred Thoroughbred race horse, foaled at Windfields Farm (Maryland). He was the best horse of his generation in Europe at both two and three years of age, ahead of an ...

, mfm = Kanmary , mmf = Unreal Zeal , mmm = Try To Be A Lady , ffff = Minnesota Mac , fffm = Ta Wee , ffmf = Al Hattab , ffmm = Agathea's Dawn , fmff = Red God , fmfm = Runaway Bride , fmmf = Mr. Prospector , fmmm = Square Generation , mfff =

Northern Dancer Northern Dancer (May 27, 1961 – November 16, 1990) was a Thoroughbred who, in 1964, became the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. He then became one of the most successful sires of the 20th century. He is considered a Canad ...

, mffm = Sex Appeal , mfmf = Kenmare , mfmm = Djallybrook , mmff = Mr. Prospector , mmfm = Quick Nurse , mmmf = Sham , mmmm = Eight Lady }

References

Harlem Rocker's pedigree

Harlem Rocker Training and Race History

Harlem Rocker's website
2005 racehorse births Racehorses bred in Ontario Racehorses trained in the United States Thoroughbred family 2-n