Essex

Making his first start in more than nine months, Fox Hill Farms' ROCKPORT

HARBOR (Unbridled's Song) posted a determined wire-to-wire victory under Stewart

Elliott in the $100,000

Essex H. (G3) at Oaklawn Park on Saturday. It was no

stroll at the Spa, however, for the rangy gray looked in trouble in midstretch

before summoning his courage to repel a daring bid from Cougar Cat (Storm Cat).

The John Servis charge re-rallied to score by 2 1/4 lengths, stopping the

teletimer in 1:47 3/5 for the 1 1/16-mile event on the good track.

There was some scrimmaging coming out of the gate, with Rockport Harbor

breaking to his inside, resulting in a bit of a jam with Jonesboro (Sefapiano)

and Real Dandy (Yankee Victor). Once the field sorted itself out, Cougar Cat and

Rockport Harbor matched strides to the first turn, when the gray loped to an

advantage of as much as four lengths through soft fractions of :24, :48, and

1:14. With Cougar Cat backing off in second, and no one else stepping up to

apply pressure, the Servis colt was apparently on his way to an easy score. On

the far turn and into the stretch, though, Cougar Cat was on the march to the

outside, and Rockport Harbor was beginning to tire. Cougar Cat drew even with

his rival and briefly flattered that he would strike the front, but he hung, and

Rockport Harbor knuckled down at the rail to regain a clear lead.

As Cougar Cat folded, longshots Thunder Mission (Pulpit) and Silver Axe

(Silver Ghost) closed strongly to get second and third, respectively, just a

neck apart. Cougar Cat was another half-length back in fourth, followed by

Matched (Smart Strike), Real Dandy and Jonesboro.

Rockport Harbor paid $4, $3.80 and $3.20 as the even-money favorite. The 14-1

Thunder Mission returned $9.40 and $5.60, and Silver Axe yielded $6.60 at 18-1.

Boosted by the healthy odds on the minor placings, the exotics were worth $51.80

(exacta) and $193.60 for the 5-8-6 trifecta ($1).

Bred in Kentucky by Heiligbrodt Racing Stable and Taylor Made Farm, Rockport

Harbor was acquired by his current owners for $470,000 at the 2003 Keeneland

September Yearling Sale. He was produced by Regal Miss Copelan (Copelan), winner

of the 1997 Colleen S. at Monmouth. She has a bay juvenile colt named Maxey Boy

(Forestry) and an unnamed yearling colt by Mr. Greeley. This is the family of

Grade 2 victress Regally Appealing (Valid Appeal).

With this success in his four-year-old debut, Rockport Harbor boasts a

scorecard of 7-5-1-0 with a bankroll of $320,300. His only unplaced finish was

his previous start in Keeneland's Lexington S. (G2) in April, when he was sixth

in the slop, compromised by foot problems that shelved him until the Essex. As a

two-year-old, he was unbeaten in four starts, notably the Remsen S. (G2) and

Nashua S. (G3), and placed second in the Rebel S. (G3) in his only other outing

at three.

Having shown that he retains his old sparkle and ability, Rockport Harbor

will have something to say in the older male division in 2006.