Rocknroll Runa A claimed victory in the $17,000 Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Saturday night (Feb. 18).

Take A Gamble sped through early fractions of :26.3 and :55.3, which took their toll while he endured a challenge from favoured Moonshine Kisses. Rocknroll Runa A shook loose around the final turn and came charging hard on the outside in the stretch before coming on to win in 1:52, the fastest time for any horse in the 2023 campaign at the Spa. The longest shot on the board, Belmont Major N closed up the inside to finish second while Moonshine Kisses had to settle for third in his first try in the local Open this season.

Rocknroll Runa A paid $13.60 to win in the mild upset and led big-priced exotics. The exacta returned $242.50 while the triple came back $444.

Rocknroll Runa A is owned and trained by Larry Stalbaum whose barn had a pair of victories on the Saturday card. His former Spa Pacer of the Year Crockets Cullen N went coast-to-coast on Saturday with young pilot Brett Beckwith in the sulky. Matthew Athearn drover Rocknroll Runa A to victory.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 19) with a matinee that starts at 12 p.m. (EST). There is a carryover of $2,609 in the matinee’s Early Pick 5 and a carryover of $2,017 in the Late Pick 5.

(with files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)