Wolf Man Rocket rallied down the stretch to overtake Hillbilly Royalty to win the 18th running of the $100,000 Northern Spur in a stakes-record time of 1:36.48.
Hillbilly Royalty, the post-time favorite, broke on top and led to the final 100 yards before the Bob Baffert-trained Wolf Man Rocket rushed by for a 1 3/4-length victory in the 1-mile race.
Ridden by Victor Espinoza, who later rode American Pharoah to victory in the Arkansas Derby, Wolf Man Rocket paid $5.40, $3.60 and $2.80. Hillbilly Royalty paid $3 and $2.40. Poseidon's Way finished third and paid $3.60. The second- and third-place finishers were trained by Donnie K. Von Hemel.
It was the first career victory for Wolf Man Rocket, who had placed second in his two previous starts, which both came at Santa Anita.
"Wolfie got it done today," assistant trainer Jimmy Barnes said of Wolf Man Rocket, a 3-year-old son of Mineshaft. "He showed heart. Stretching him out really helped."
Wolf Man Rocket is owned by Frank Fletcher of North Little Rock.