Rock Me Baby, a popular California-bred stakes winner and earner of nearly half a million dollar, has been retired from racing. The 6-year-old son of Rock Hard Ten retires sound following a fifth place finish in the Walter Cluer Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise on November 28.

“He’s such a neat horse who was was a pleasure to have in the barn these past three years,” said West Point Thoroughbreds president Terry Finley. “He didn’t debut until the end of his three-year-old year, but proved to be worth the wait. “Rocky” took his partners on a fun ride and we owe it to him to retire sound with the ability to move on to a second career. He’s been adopted by one of his partners.”

“Rock Me Baby is one of the hardest-knocking horses I’ve been around, having hit the board in 15 of 24 starts” said trainer Craig Dollase. “His biggest win came in the 2014 California Dreamin’ Handicap at Del Mar and he came really close to becoming a graded stakes winner in the Del Mar Mile that same year. In 2013, he was beaten only three lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint at Santa Anita.”

Rock Me Baby retired with an overall record of 7-6-2 from 24 starts and earnings of $494,454.

Bred in California by Madeleine A Pickens and Mercedes Stable LLC, Rock Me Baby is out of the Tale of the Cat mare Barbara Orr.

After bringing $40,000 as a yearling, Rock Me Baby was bought by West Point for $210,000 at the 2011 Barretts March 2-year-olds in training sale. He was consigned by Wavertree Stables, agent.