Rocket Can

Rocket Can won his maiden race in his third career outing as a 2-year-old in a maiden race at Churchill Downs on Oct. 30, 2022. He won by two lengths on a sloppy track going 1 1/16 miles in a time of 1:46.1.  His final start of 2022 was a second-place finish back at Churchill Downs at the same distance in an allowance optional claiming race on Nov. 26.

Rocket Can made his 3-year-old debut on Feb. 4, 2023 at Gulfstream Park in the Grade 3 $250,000 Holy Bull Stakes. Sent off as the 5-2 odds second choice on the tote board in a field of eight, Rocket Can stalked the pace in mid-pack, moved to the front at the top of the stretch, and held off a late closer to preserve a three-quarters of a length win in a time of 1:44.97 for the 1 1/16 miles on a fast track.

Rocket Can made the following start of his 3-year-old campaign back at Gulfstream Park in the Grade 2 $400,000 Fountain of Youth Stakes on March 4. He proved to be no match that day for the runaway winner, Forte, but he did finish a competitive second. The runner-up finish meant that he picked up 20 more points as he continues on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

Rocket Can switched to Oaklawn Park for his next start, which came in the $1.25 million Grade 1 Arkansas Derby on April 1. He finished fourth, which was enough to earn him 20 more Kentucky Derby points which will be enough to secure him a spot in the starting gate for the run for the roses. Rocket Can subsequently finished ninth in the 2023 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve.

Rocket Can make a total of seven starts as a 4-year-old during the 2024 calendar year, with wins in his first start of the year (optional claiming race March 16 at Oaklawn Park) and in his last in the Grade 3 $165,000 Harlan's Holiday Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park on Dec. 21.

Rocket Can is trained by Bill Mott. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Into Mischief out of the mare Tension by Tapit.