Some familiar Ontario-based sophomore pacers headed to Freehold Raceway on Saturday afternoon for the first leg of New Jersey Sires Stakes and dominated the majority of the six divisions for colts and fillies worth between $19,100 and $20,900 a piece
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Piece Of The Rock made his Canadian connections proud with a victory in the second colt division with Valentino and Moneybackguarantee winning the other two splits.
Driven by George Brennan, Piece Of The Rock ($3.80) overcame early interference and advanced first up from fourth after the opening quarter to win in 1:54.3. A J Corbelli (Cat Manzi) finished one length behind with Art N Charm (Dave Miller) third.
Rob Coyne Jr. conditions the Rocknroll Hanover-Paulas Promise gelding while racing in the U.S. for trainer-owner Robert Young of Guelph and Jamie Trott of Orangeville, Brian Barton of Carlisle and Frank Aloise of Brampton, ON. The victory was his fourth in 13 starts this season pushing his earnings to $260,550 for 2010 and $301,359 lifetime.
Valentino ($2.20) front-stepped his way to a four and a quarter length score in 1:53.1 for driver George Brennan and trainer Lou Pena. Whackamole Hanover (Andy Miller) and Shoobees Place (Dave Miller) finished second and third.
The son of Rocknroll Hanover-Schoolofcardknocks is now six-for-15 with $205,935 banked this year for KDM Stables Corp. of Farmingdale, New York and JL Benson Stables Inc. of Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
The Ron Burke-trained Moneybackguarantee ($28.20), with driver Brian Sears, rallied off second over cover to upset pacesetter and favourite Golden Time (Yannick Gingras) in 1:55.2 by three-quarters of a length. Detail Man (Andy Miller) finished right there in third.
The Red River Hanover-Babette Hall colt, a winner of four races in 14 starts and $39,500 in 2010, is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.
Sophomore pacing fillies with Canadian connections swept all three of their divisions.
Slimsplace ($4.40) converted from the pocket to win her division in 1:56 for driver Cat Manzi and trainer Kevin McDermott. Pacesetter and favourite Rockaroundthetrack (Andy Miller) finished three-quarters of a length behind with Sold Out (Pat Lachance) third.
The Artsplace-Shes Beachy is owned by her Canadian trainer Jeff Gillis of Hillsburgh, ON and Ellen Ott of Buffalo, New York. She picked up her fifth win in 20 starts this year for earnings of $72,770 while her total bankroll climbed over the $100,000 mark.
Ticket To Rock ($2.40) was a gate-to-wire winner in the next division, stopping the clock in 1:54.3 with a two and a quarter length lead on her rivals. Its Only Rocknroll (Cat Manzi) was second with I Lady (Andy Miller) 11 lengths back in third.
David Miller drove the Rocknroll Hanover-Odds On J P filly to her fifth win in 10 starts this year while her earnings increased to $116,450. Casie Coleman trains for the Jack Darling Stables Ltd. of Cambridge, ON, who purchased the career winner of $364,941 for $47,000 at the Lexington Select Sale. She is a half-sister to Miss Scarlett ($510,161), who equaled the 1:50 Canadian season's record for older pacing mares at Mohawk Racetrack on Friday night.
In the final division, Rockn Highland ($11.00) and driver George Brennan followed favourite Dancin Barefoot (Yannick Gingras) with Naughtytiltheend (Brian Sears) applying first over pressure before pulling the pocket in the stretch and coming on to score in 1:54.4. Cannae Cammie (David Miller) closed well to finish second, missing by just a head with Dancin Barefoot over a length behind in third.
Mark Harder trains for owner-breeder Highland Thoroughbred FRM of Inglewood, ON. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Armbro Ophelia, who was lightly raced at two, picked up her third win in six outings this year. She has banked $35,710 of her $63,760 bankroll in 2010.
To view Saturday's results, click here.