The Saturday (Oct. 16) card at The Red Mile featured two $111,500 divisions in the Bluegrass Series for three-year-old colt pacers and three $128,000 and $129,000 divisions for two-year-old colt pacers
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In the opening sophomore split, Mathias Meinzinger, Jerry Silva and trainer Ray Schnittker's One More Laugh was an impressive winner for driver Tim Tetrick in a time of 1:49. The McArdle-Fancy Creek Funny gelding made his seventh visit to the winner's circle in 15 trips behind the gate in 2010, with season's earnings over $1.1 million.
One More Laugh sat fourth in the early going as Windfall Blue Chip was the leader at the opening quarter in :26.4. Dreamlands Art brushed to the lead at the :53.4 half-mile marker and continued on top through the 1:22.1 three-quarter pole.
The winner came first over on the final turn and grabbed the lead as the field straightened out down the lane. A :26.4 final panel put One More Laugh in victory lane with a 1:49 win on his resume. Dreamlands Art and Jim Morrill, Jr. held second while Urgent Action and David Miller were third.
In the $111,500 second division, Frank Bellino's Rock N Roll Heaven ran his winning streak to six with a 1:48.2 triumph for trainer Bruce Saunders and driver Daniel Dube. The Rocknroll Hanover-Artistic Vision sophomore saw his 2010 record improve to 12 wins in 17 season's starts, with earnings over $1.5 million.
World Of Rocknroll fired away strongly from the gate and took the field to a wicked opening quarter of :25.4. Rock N Roll Heaven got away fourth, but moved off the wood down the backstretch. He was first on the outside at the :53 half-mile marker, then finally cleared before the final turn.
Rock N Roll Heaven was in command at the 1:20.1 three-quarter pole, but began to tire down the stetch. Razzle Dazzle (John Campbell) came charging down the lane and got close, but could not catch the winner who crossed the wire in 1:48.2. Rockin Image (Yannick Gingras) finished third.
"I think the track was a little deeper than we are accustomed to," said trainer Bruce Saunders, "and he was a little tired at the end."
In the $128,000 opening freshman division, Rollwithitharry (Rocknroll Hanover-Queen Otra) and driver Yannick Gingras were first to the wire in a new lifetime mark of 1:51.3. The Jimmy Takter trainee won for the second time in 10 lifetime starts and improved his earnings to $194,168 for owners Christina Takter, John and Jim Fielding of Toronto and Louie Camara of Puslinch, Ont.
Gingras sent Rollwithitharry right to the front from post six and they grabbed the lead by the opening panel in :27.3. Sir Ziggys Z Tam and Patrick Lachance brushed to the front at the :55.4 half-mile marker, only to see Rollwithitharry re-take the lead by the 1:23.3 three-quarter pole.
From there it was all Rollwithitharry as he posted a :28 final quarter on his way to the 1:51.3 score. Westward Ho Hanover (Tim Tetrick) rallied to finish second, with Sir Ziggys Z Tam holding on for third.
The $129,000 second division saw Feel Like A Fool and driver Brian Sears pace the fastest mile in 2010 by a freshman pacing gelding when they reached the wire on top in 1:49.4. Owned by Kovach Stables, George Teague Jr. and Ted Gewertz, the Art Major-Fool That I Am gelding won for the fourth time in eight appearances and lifted his earnings to $380,149.
Lookinforadventure (Daniel Dube) left strongly from post position eight and cut the fractions in this mile -- :27.1, :54.2 and 1:23.1. Feel Like A Fool came first-over heading to the three-quarter pole and was third as the field hit the stretch. He gunned by the leaders down the lane and the result was never in doubt.
Prana (Jim Morrill, Jr.) also came from off the pace to finish second, with Lookinforadventure settling for third.
"He's a real nice horse to work with," said co-owner/trainer George Teague Jr. "I think he can pace with most of the two-year-olds I've seen."
In the $129,000 final division, Mystic Desire and Big Bad John could not be separated at the wire and they finished in a dead-heat for win in 1:51.4.
Mystic Desire is owned by Let It Ride Stables, Robert Cooper Stables and Angie Nessa. He was driven by Tim Tetrick for trainer Jeff Webster. Big Bad John is owned by Winchester Baye Acres and trained by Ron Potter. Dave Palone was in the sulky.
Mystic Desire cut fractions of :27.4, :56 and 1:23.4 in this race. Big Bad John sat third for the first half-mile, then improved to second at the three-quarter pole. He took dead aim on the leader in the stretch and the two battled right to the wire.
The finish had the crowd up on their feet and both horses grabbed a much deserved winner's share of the purse.
(USTA)