Locally-debuting Rockincam, driven by Eric Goodell, worked out the perfect trip Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $35,000 Open Handicap Pace.
Leaving from post position No. 6 as the 6-5 favourite, Rockincam sat early as Silent Swing (Mark MacDonald) left to an immediate lead. That one then took up, allowing honours to Code Word (Yannick Gingras).
After a :26.1 opening quarter and :54.4 half, Casimir Jitterbug (Jason Bartlett) moved from fourth. He pilfered the lead from Code Word passing the 1:23.1 three-quarters, with Rockincam perched right on "Jitterbug's" back.
Casimir Jitterbug owned a short advantage into the lane, but Rockincam rolled on by. He defeated his tow by a length and three-quarters in 1:51.4, with Sapphire City (Brent Holland)--who had launched a big bid down the backside--grabbing third. Silent Swing and Or (Brian Sears) annexed the remainder.
For Rockincam, a five-year-old son of Cambest owned by Stephen Farrell and trained by Nifty Norman, he returned $4.50 for his ninth win in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta (two wagering favourites) paid $18.80, with the triple returning $131.
With his fourth-place earnings, Silent Swing reached the $2 million career mark. The 10-year-old Ontario-sired son of Northern Luck, who boasts 62 wins on his resume, is trained by Mark Ford, who co-owns with David Shea of Campbellville, Ont.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)