Rock Icon became the sixth different Jose Godinez-trained horse to win the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino and Raceway as the five-year-old pacer parlayed the pocket ride to victory on Saturday night.
Starting from post one, Rock Icon (Bruce Aldrich Jr.) left aggressively and yielded to rival Meetyouatmidnight (Stephane Bouchard) early on. The race’s favourite, JK Panache (Mark Beckwith), moved first over, but never got to the top pair, who drew away late. Rock Icon shook loose in the stretch and got up to prevail in 1:52.3 in the $18,000 Open Pace while Meetyouatmidnight had to settle for second. Longshot Its A Good Thing (Jim Devaux) earned the show spot.
Rock Icon returned $17.20 to win. The exacta paid $110 while the triple came back $538.
The Rocknroll Hanover gelding is owned by Blindswitch Racing Stable of Cortlandt Manor, New York.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)