Harlem Rocker gets first winner in only crop

Canadian classic winner Harlem Rocker recorded his first winner, from

his only small crop, when G-Team Racing Stable's Rock My Dreams captured

Thursday's

6TH

race at Arlington.

Dropping into a $62,500 maiden claimer after five tries in maiden special

weights, the Thomas Swearingen juvenile got the job done by a length. Jockey

Rosemary Homeister Jr. carved out a pace-chasing trip aboard the 3-2 favorite,

who negotiated five Polytrack furlongs in :59 2/5.

The gray filly was bred in Illinois by T/C Stable and sold for $40,000 as a

Keeneland September yearling. She is the second registered foal from the winning

Two Punch mare Out of My Dreams, whose firstborn is stakes scorer Sing the

Dream.

Harlem Rocker, an Adena Springs homebred who raced for Stronach Stables, was

among the leading three-year-olds of 2008. Trained by Todd Pletcher, the gray

won his first three starts, capped by the Withers. He flirted with trying the

Preakness before connections decided to point for the Queen's Plate.

Accordingly, Harlem Rocker ventured to Woodbine for the Plate Trial, and he

suffered his first loss when fourth on the Polytrack. He rebounded back on dirt

to land the Prince of Wales at Fort Erie.

Subsequently fourth in the Travers and third in the Jerome, Harlem Rocker

nearly crowned his season with a Grade 1 trophy. He crossed the wire first in the Cigar Mile, only to be demoted to second for

interfering with Tale of Ekati. He was sidelined for a year thereafter, but did

not win in four starts during his comeback and ultimately retired to stud with a mark of

12-4-2-1, $597,649.