Rocknroll Runa A last won the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel back in February. After getting his season off to a strong start, the six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding has gone out of town and competed throughout much of the spring and summer for owner/trainer Larry Stalbaum.

At one point this summer, Rocknroll Runa A rattled off three consecutive victories in the Yonkers Open Pace before competing in the Kane Invitational at Batavia Downs. Following a win in the Batavia Open last week (Sept. 30), it was back to the Spa on Saturday, Oct. 7 for the Stalbaum stable star, who was assigned post seven in the seven-horse Open Handicap Pace.

Stalbaum piloted Rocknroll Runa A in the $15,000 feature and left to find an early spot in fourth. The veteran reinsman was aggressive approaching the midway point and powered to the lead in a half-mile that went in :56.2 over a track labelled ‘sloppy.’ One of the two even-money shots in the Open, Rocknroll Runa A was asked to crank up the speed after clicking off three-quarters in 1:24.3 and the response was instant. What resulted was win number nine on the season for the Aussie invader, who stopped the timer in 1:52.3 and subsequently moved his 2023 earnings over the $180,000 mark.

Last week’s Open winner Hestherightstuff (Billy Dobson) closed well to be second on Saturday while even-money shot Moonshine Kisses (Jay Randall) powered home in the stretch to finish third.

Rocknroll Runa A led an exacta and triple in the feature that paid $28 and $66, respectively. 

(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)