Princeofrocknroll produced the highest $2 win mutuel in the three-year history of Hollywood Dayton Raceway thanks to his upset score on Thursday’s card of racing.
Despite winning six races and over $26,000 at Ohio county fairs this summer, the three-year-old son of World Of Rocknroll was dispatched at odds of over 99-1 and returned $211.20 to his backers following his come-from-behind 1:55.2 triumph.
Starting from the eight-hole, driver Kyle Ater, who was sitting behind Princeofrocknroll for the first time, was content to settle last in the nine-horse field through the first half-mile. By the three-quarters Ater had moved his charge up to seventh in the outer flow, then fanned three-wide in fifth position for the stretch drive. To the astonishment of most handicappers, the handsome bay colt breezed past all adversaries in the final sixteenth to finish 3-1/2 lengths to the good.
Princeofrocknroll’s upset score was the 35th career win for trainer Kirk Sparks of Richwood. The 44-year-old conditioner notched six training wins in a short first stint in the business from 2002-2005.
Married and with two children, Sparks opted for the security of a full-time job in a steel factory for the next decade before returning to training in early 2015.
Following a semi-successful initial season with seven wins from his small stable, Kirk has blossomed into a high percentage trainer from his 2016 three-horse stable in 2016. The most recent longshot victory was the 22nd of the year for the Sparks Stable that currently sports a UTRS around .500.
Carol Johnston owns Princeofrocknroll, whose juvenile bankroll has grown to $35,000.
(Hollywood Dayton Raceway)