Rock My Universe is a Meadowlands lover and the Mike Simons-trained and driven four-year-old proved that by taking his third straight Big M start on Friday, Feb. 28 in the featured $25,000 high-end conditioned trot.

The gelded son of Walner-Youlightupmyworld ventured away from the mile oval in his last start and things did not go very well.

“A friend of mine, Matt Kakaley, drove him last week and [Rock My Universe] had a tough time getting around [the five-eighths-mile track at Pocono Downs],” said Simons. “He said he was hitting his knees. The bigger turns [at The Meadowlands] really made a difference. There weren’t any anxious moments. Tonight, he was pretty good.”

Rock My Universe was kept off the early action, sitting sixth at the quarter as even-money favourite Crown Monarch (Braxten Boyd) reached that station in :28.2. Out just after the three-eighths, Rock My Universe raced with cover behind Blue Bayou Deo (Mark Herschberger) as Crown Monarch hit the half in :58.2.

After racing gapped off his cover, Rock My Universe stayed in the hunt racing third out of the far turn after Crown Monarch reached three-quarters in 1:27.1, but despite a rated middle half of :58.4, Crown Monarch proved vulnerable as Rock My Universe eased into the three-path for the stretch drive and sprinted past the favourite while holding Lukes Bar (Patrick Ryder), who had been covered up by the eventual winner, off by a neck in 1:55.1. Crown Monarch held third.

“It was all good,” said Simons. “I just wanted to keep him steady. I tipped him out [down the backstretch] and luckily, I grabbed some cover and it worked out really well for him.

“He tries hard. When I tipped him off cover, he really surged and that’s impressive. That means he’s got a little fight to him.”

After starting his career with one win in 30 tries, Rock My Universe is now four-for-34, good for earnings over $90,000. He joined the Simons stable early this year when acquired by owners A P Racing of West Chester, Pennsylvania and William Masterson of Yardville, New Jersey.

Rock My Universe paid $23.40 to win as the 10-1 fourth choice in the betting.

Mark Herschberger led the driver colony with three winners on the 14-race card. 

The 20-cent Survivor Pick-7 paid handsomely once again, as after a sequence that had winners’ odds of 4-5, 6-5, 2-1, 10-1, 5-1, 2-1 and 5-1, those with six winners on their tickets collected $3,746.54.

 All-source handle on the 14-race card totalled $3,055,408 USD.

Racing resumes on Saturday at 6:20 p.m.

(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)