Crescent

Centennial Farms’ co-owners Don Little, Jr., Peter Horvitz, and Margaret O’Meara, and the many partners to whom he provided lifelong memories announce the retirement of multiple graded stakes winner Rocketry. The handsome son of Hard Spun retires sound with career earnings of over $810,000 and three track records to his credit.

Rocketry, bred by Gainesway Thoroughbreds, was quick to stamp himself as a good looking prospect, commanding $195,000 as a Keeneland November weanling when acquired by McMahon & Hill Bloodstock. Returned to Keeneland as part of the Hidden Brook consignment the following September, he drew the attention of Centennial’s Dr. Stephen Carr and Paula Parsons, hammering for $450,000. Always an impressive individual, his popularity in the sales ring was also a testament to his pedigree, which includes a bevy of graded stakes horses.

Like so many Centennial stars before him, Rocketry received his early education under Parsons and her team at the Middleburg Training Center, a place he’d return to throughout the years for vacations from a racing environment. He joined trainer Jimmy Jerkens at Belmont Park in June of his two-year-old year, under whose care he would remain throughout his career. Rocketry displayed what would become his trademark late-running style beginning with his first career start at Gulfstream Park. An impressive maiden score on turf at Belmont Park during the spring of his sophomore campaign earned him “Rising Star” status from the Thoroughbred Daily News. As a three-year-old, he beat older horses at Saratoga and barely missed his first graded black-type, finishing behind only subsequent G1 winners Voodoo Song, Yoshida, and future Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar going just 1 1/8-miles in the G3 Saranac.

Rocketry would truly come into his own as a four-year-old. His continuing maturity coincided with an increased fondness for dirt and he made the transition to the main track in September of 2018. The switch resulted in a performance in the Temperence Hill Stakes that is unlikely to be matched – he stopped the clock in 2:40.18, breaking Man o’ War’s 98-year-old Belmont Park track record for 1 5/8-miles. He took his show on the road next out and picked up his first graded stakes victory. A late charge in the G2 Marathon Stakes presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance established a new track record of 2:57.62 for 1 ¾-miles at famed Churchill Downs.

While his unique style and preference for longer distances would make him vulnerable to pace and biases, he continued to deliver big performances over the subsequent seasons. At five, he flew late and wide to finish second in the prestigious G2 Woodford Reserve Brooklyn Invitational Stakes. His six-year-old campaign ended with an exclamation point as Rocketry set a third track record, this time going 1 5/8-miles in 2:42.57 at Keeneland, and picked up another graded stakes victory – the G2 Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance.

Rocketry’s zest for training, the track environment, and his Jerkens Racing family never wavered during a three-race campaign in 2021. Although his seven-year-old season upped his black-type count to a total nine races, the decision was made to retire him following a fourth-place effort in Saratoga’s Birdstone Stakes. Centennial Farms could not be more proud of his on-track accomplishments or more grateful of his status as a fan-favorite. The two elements combined in spectacular fashion when a shoe worn in victory in the Temperence Hill topped a fund-raising auction for the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation.

While plans are being finalized for his retirement, “Rocky” has shipped to Centennial Farms in Middleburg, Virginia to unwind, enjoy the spacious paddocks, and be spoiled.

Rocketry’s late season surge, capped by a victory in the G2 Marathon presented by the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, led the way during a terrific 2018 season for Centennial Farms and our loyal partners. The hard work by Paula Parsons and Dr. Carr in diligently selecting world-class athletes to prepare and oversee resulted in a whopping fourteen victories once in the hands of Jimmy Jerkens. Nearly 30% of our starters were winners over the course of the year, with over 50% finishing in the top three. We were absolutely thrilled to bring our partners to the winner’s circle at some of the nation’s most prestigious meetings, including a trio of victories at unrivaled Saratoga and a victory during the first of two Breeders’ Cup cards. Here’s to more success in 2019!

After enduring a little bad luck of the equine and racing office variety, the Centennial Farms 2017 racing season is officially underway! The Crescent LLC’s Rocketry made his career debut going 7 1/2 furlongs on the turf at Gulfstream Park. It proved to be a terrific learning experience for the big colt, who came flying late after trailing the field.

That effort sets the stage for what could be a terrific year for Centennial Farms. Virtually all of the principles are back from a big 2016 that produced some impressive stats for our boutique stable:

• No syndicate with fewer starters had more victories
• No syndicate with fewer starters had as many top-3 finishes
• Finished the year among the top 15 syndicates by money won, despite nearly twenty fewer starts than any entity who earned more.
• Finished the year with over 20% wins
• Multiple stakes horses from multiple partnerships

While looking back at the year that was can provide indication of what’s to come, stats don’t do justice to the possibilities that abound for the remainder of 2017. All three of last year’s stakes performers are back in training at Palm Meadows Thoroughbred Training Center with the benefit of fall freshenings in Middleburg, Virginia in the rearview mirror. Leading the way is multiple graded stakes winner Unified, whose early target is the G1 Carter at Aqueduct Racetrack in April. He’s joined by stakes-placed Securitiz, the current elder statesman of the stable, and improving Adulator.

A bevy of lightly raced and unraced prospects are gearing up for promising careers. Every member of the Crescent and Empire partnerships have joined their racetrack families and are actively moving forward. In the meantime, the two-year-old class could not be more impressive under the watchful eye of Paula Parsons. The mix of proven, improving, and promising horses that comprises the roster has us absolutely thrilled about the eleven months ahead. Reach out any time if you’re ready to take the step to share in the excitement!