Rockemperor and Cellist , both graded stakes winners last year, have yet to add a win in 2023 as the year draws to an end. In one of the last graded turf events of the year in Kentucky, the $300,000 River City Stakes (G3T) Nov. 11 at Churchill Downs, the venerable campaigners have a chance to end the autumn season on a high note before winter racing begins.
Trained by Chad Brown, Rockemperor has yet to regain the form that saw the gelding capture the 2021 Joe Hirsch Turf Classic (G1T) against a top-tier field. He’s been 1-for-11 since that victory, with his sole win coming in the 2022 Bowling Green Stakes (G2T).
In his most recent outing, however, Rockemperor recorded his highest Equibase Speed Figure since the Bowling Green when missing by a half-length in Woodbine‘s Singspiel Stakes (G3T) Sept. 9.
Cutting back from 1 1/4 miles to 1 1/8 miles for the River City, Tyler Gaffalione has the call on Rockemperor.
Although nine of the 12 horses that drew in for the River City field are stakes winners, Cellist looks to have the best chance to defeat Rockemperor. A winner of the Louisville Stakes (G3T) in May of last year, the Rusty Arnold trainee exits a game runner-up effort in the Oct. 13 Sycamore Stakes (G3T) at Keeneland.
Breaking from the inside post and also shortening up in trip (from 1 1/2 miles), the Calumet Farm homebred will likely be looking for the lead again, as he was in the Sycamore.
