Rocklamation, driven by Brian Sears, made use of the passing lane and then some Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $194,890 Lady Maud Pace for three-year-old fillies
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The non-betting, four-horse foray, held prior to the $401,000 Messenger Stakes-led wagering card, saw the ladies away in post position order, as in Krispy Apple (Jim Morrill Jr.), Rocklamation, City Delight (Jason Bartlett) and New Album (Ron Pierce). Krispy Apple was left to her devices through early intervals of :27.3 and :56.1.
Back marker New Album moved toward the 1:24.4 three-quarters, though Krispy Apple maintained a length-and-a-half lead turning for home.
However, she then violated the "shortest distance between two points" theory, bearing out badly through the lane and eventually breaking near the wire. That left all the glory for Rocklamation, who won by a pair of widening lengths in 1:53 -- a new record for a Yonkers' edition of the Lady Maud (the stakes record of 1:52.4 was set by Shoobeedoobeedoo at the Meadows in 2003).
New Album was able to grab second over the self-inflicted grief of Krispy Apple, with City Delight fourth.
"[Rocklamation] has been getter better as the season has gone along," said Sears. "She was very good in [winning] her [Breeders Crown] elimination race, but unfortunately, had no chance in the final.
"Tonight, the way the draw played out, I knew I'd be chasing Jimmy's filly [Krsipy Apple], and she's had issues with running out. It worked out very well for us."
Rocklamation, a daughter of Rocknroll Hanover owned by Stable 45 and trained by Ron Burke, is now five-for-20 this season with earnings in excess of $330,000.
(Yonkers Raceway)