Rockemperor Leads Home Longshot Chad-zacta in Joe Hirsch

[Wandering Eyes]

ROCKEMPEROR (IRE) (h, 5, Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}–Motivation {Fr}, by Muthathir {GB}) led home the latest and probably on the of the better paying Chad Brown-trained exactas in recent memory in Saturday's GI Joe Hirsch Turf Classic S. The French Group 3-placed runner was fifth as the favorite in this race last year after a close second in the GI Manhattan S. to stablemate Instilled Regard (Arch) last July and a third to fellow Brown pupil Digital Age (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) in the GI Old Forester Bourbon Turf Classic S. at Churchill that September. He kicked off this season with a third in the GII Fort Marcy S. May 1 behind yet another stablemate, and was fifth to Brown's highly regarded Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the local GI Resorts World Casino Manhattan S. June 5. The bay gained some confidence thanks to an easy optional claiming tally here June 26, and was second to re-opposing Cross Border (English Channel) in the GII Bowling Green S. at the Spa July 31 before settling for fourth behind race favorite Gufo (Declaration of War) in the GI Resorts World Casino Sword Dancer S. upstate Aug. 28. Dismissed at 15-1 while shedding blinkers for the first time since the Fort Marcy, Rockemperor had only race favorite Gufo beaten as they raced under the line for the first time. He was still patiently ridden after a mile in 1:38.62 and as Gufo went for what would prove a premature run. Rockemperor swept past foes widest leaving the home bend, put away the leg-weary Gufo and the rest of his rivals in upper stretch and poured it on from there to run up the score to three lengths in 2:25.61. Lightly raced Serve the King (GB) (Kingman {GB}) rallied into second over Gufo. The all-Brown exacta paid $178.50 for $2. Lifetime Record: 20-4-5-6.
O-Madaket Stables LLC, Dubb, Michael, Wonder Stables, Kisber, Michael E. and Caruso, Michael J. B-Haras du Mezeray (Ire). T-Chad Brown.

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