Brian Skirka
NYRA/Aqueduct Racetrack

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Starlight Racing’s Tiger’s Rock, the largest price of a trio of runners sent out by trainer Todd Pletcher, cruised past odds-on favorite and stablemate Nite Light to win the 71st running of the $72,800 Gallant Fox Thursday afternoon at Aqueduct Racetrack.

Sent off the fifth choice in the field of 12 at 11.80-1, Tiger’s Rock raced in mid-pack through the early stages of the 1 5/8-mile marathon while Lord Kipling set opening fractions of 24.24 and 48.81 seconds. 

As the field entered the final turn, Lord Kipling dropped back and Nite Light, who was a stalking second throughout, inherited the lead.  Beneath jockey David Cohen, Tiger’s Rock rallied on the outside of Nite Lite to gain control in mid-stretch and complete the 13 furlongs in 2:47.34 over the fast inner track. 

Nite Light, sent off at odds of 4-5, held on for second.

“Obviously, his strength is the ability to get an extreme amount of ground,” said Pletcher’s assistant trainer Jonathan Thomas about Tiger’s Rock.  “It will be interesting now that we know Tiger’s Rock can handle the dirt, maybe he can turn back in distance.”

Prior to the Gallant Fox, the 3-year-old son of Giant’s Causeway had never run on dirt, but had shown an affinity for marathons with his two career wins coming at 12 furlongs on the Kentucky Downs turf and 13 furlongs over Keeneland’s synthetic surface.

“Every time I asked him during the race, he responded,” said Cohen.  “He took dirt very well.  It’s a long race so I was just trying to figure out how much horse I had to call upon.”

Tiger’s Rock paid $25.60 for a $2 win bet.  Nite Light finished 4 1/2-lengths behind in second and it was another length back to Giant Chieftan in third.

It was the first stakes victory for Tiger’s Rock who increased his career earnings to $93,080.