Frank Fletcher still has Derby fever, but it’s not Kentucky style.
Fletcher grew up in Tamo, Ark. tiny, about 80 miles southeast of Hot Springs, attended the University of Arkansas, and later became a highly successful businessman in the state, with interests ranging from furs to restaurants, hotels, and colleges. car management.
Fletcher, 80 years old, is also a longtime Purebred owner and considers Oaklawn Park, naturally, monitor his home. It’s easy to connect the remaining dots because Oaklawn annually hosts the race that Fletcher coveted more than any—the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Fletcher, who won his first race at Oaklawn in 1989, started with just two horses in the Arkansas Derby, finishing third in 2001 with Son of Rocket and seventh in 2007 with rocket officer . Both were coached by the late Bob Holthus, Oaklawn’s all-time winning coach.
Now the colorful owner of North Little Rock, Ark. there will be another chance on Saturday when Missiles can , coached by Hall of Famer Bill Mott, started the $1.25 million race. The 1 1/8 mile Arkansas Derby is Oaklawn’s fourth and final Kentucky Derby (G1) scoring race.
“I love the Arkansas Derby,” Fletcher said shortly after the March 26 draw in Larry Snyder’s Winners Round. “We love this race. I told Wally Hall (longtime Arkansas-Pazette sports editor) that my lifelong dream is to win the Arkansas Derby. The Kentucky Derby. If I If I win the Arkansas Derby, maybe I’ll tell Mott to go ahead and do whatever he wants. I’ll stay here and climb to the top of this statue in the front and sit there for about a week.”
Rocket Can represents Fletcher’s best Arkansas Derby chance to date after winning $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes (G3) on February 4 and finishing second behind champion Forte in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2 ) worth $400,000 on March 4. Both races are 1/16 mile long IS at Gulfstream Park.
Rocket Can galloping on March 31 at Oaklawn Park
By Super Sir into naughty get out faucet mare Stress , Rocket Can has flourished since switching to two plays last fall. Rocket Can broke her girlhood on October 30 at Churchill Downsthen runner-up, beaten half length confidence game , in the tier one option claimant on November 26 at Churchill Downs. Both races were 1 1/16 miles. Confident Game is back to win $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2), Oaklawn’s last major preparations for the Arkansas Derby, Feb.
After winning Holy Bull by 3/4 length, Rocket Can, in the final start, was beaten 4 1/2 lengths by Forte in Fountain of Youth. Forte, a 2-year-old Eclipse Award winner, is favored in the Kentucky Derby futures book bet.
“Forte is faster than us, no doubt,” said Fletcher. “But he had the best ride in the world at the Fountain of Youth. He ran really fast, but he’d never been hit or bumped or anything. He’s going to be a great man. one of the two or three favorites in the Kentucky Derby. But I’d say our horse was made to be more of a backrunner than a backrunner. It’s powerful and it can collide in that first turn and it will keep going.”
Rocket Can, like Forte, was based in the winter and early spring in South Florida. Mott opted for a road trip after it was announced that Forte would be home and running in the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on Saturday at Gulfstream Park.
The Arkansas Derby will provide 200 points for the top five finishers (100-40-30-20-10, respectively) to begin qualifying for the Kentucky Derby. Rocket Can (40 points) ranks 13th on the latest Kentucky Derby rankings released by Churchill Downs. The Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters.
Fletcher and Mott have enjoyed considerable success since reuniting a few years ago, campaigning, among others, for multi-millionaire female sprinters to win a wide range of classified bets. Frank’s rocket and 3rd grade champion rocket man candy . Fletcher said he never pressured Mott to run one of the owner’s horses during the Arkansas Derby. For example, Mott has run Candy Man Rocket during preparations for the big Kentucky Derby in Florida and New York—but not Arkansas—in 2021. Rocket Can, in gray, is a 4-1 third pick in program for the Arkansas Derby.
Rocket Can Wins Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream Park
“We’re looking at this race and (April 8) Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and want to see who’s in each race,” said Fletcher. “I told him I would give anything to go to the Arkansas Derby, but if there’s a better field for us in Kentucky, I wouldn’t tell you not to race there. So, it’s all right. This is my home state. This is the race I’ve always wanted to win. But I strongly feel that the horse should have every chance Mott thinks he can get.”
Winning the Arkansas Derby will come on the 34th anniversary of Fletcher’s first game at Oaklawn. Fletcher co-owned Fast Fan, winner of the 11th race on April 1, 1989, with Holthus.
“I’m not going to have anything to do with what they do or how they do it on Saturday,” Fletcher said. “I’ll just be the cheerleader for it. Really, that’s where we stand as owners. It’s to step on the line and write the check and then we become cheerleaders for nothing more than nothing. I’m not trying to get in the way of Mr. Mott’s business. I really like him. He would never do anything that isn’t quite in the best interest of the horse.”
This press release has been edited by BloodHorse Staff for content and style.
