Wilmington, Del., October 9, 2024 — Eagle Up Stables, London Reid Thoroughbreds and Non Stop Stable’s It’s Hammertime passed the two-turn test with his victory in the $125,000 Rocky Run Stakes at Delaware Park today.
With leading jockey Julio Hernandez aboard, the Delaware Certified 2-year-old son of Vekoma won by 1 ½-lengths and returned $3.40 as the favorite in the field of seven. The Maryland conditioned by Gary Capuano covered the mile in 1:39.29 over a fast-main track. Tony Eclipse, with Sheldon Russell, finished second. It was another 10 1/2-lengths farther back, Baby Dukes with Kendrick Carmouche, in third.
In his career debut, It’s Hammertime posted an 8-length score in a five-furlong Delaware Park maiden on June 5. He followed with a 5-length triumph in the Delaware bred or certified six furlong $100,000 First State Dash Stakes at Delaware Park on September 11. He is unbeaten in all three career outings with earnings of $175,000.
“He ran a great race,” said winning trainer Gary Capuano. “We had a good post, he has speed and we kind of got the trip we were hoping for. I knew the two (Tony Eclipse) was going to be tough to get by, but I was pretty confident turning for home especially after Julio (Hernandez) to a peak back to see if anyone else was coming, so I knew he had some horse left. He finished up really nice. We are pretty excited about him. It is huge he passed the two-turn test. He is Delaware Certified, Maryland-bred and he has shown he can go a route, so we got a lot of options with him down the road.”
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