Rock Shines Again used a perfect pocket trip to capture the $42,254 Open Pace on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Hollywood Gaming Dayton Raceway, stopping the timer in 1:49.3.
Driven by Marvin Luna and trained by Tyler George, the four-year-old Rockin Image-Bikini Star gelding sat just off the pace as Win Lous Or Draw (Cam McCown) carved out fractions of :26.2, :54.3 and 1:21.3. Riding the leader's helmet throughout, Rock Shines Again ducked into the passing lane and surged past late to score by 1-1/2 lengths. Higher Ground (David Miller) was first-up most of the mile finished a half-length ahead of pacesetter Win Lous Or Draw for second.
Owned by Indiana's Redder Racing and T G Stable, Rock Shines Again earned his fourth win of the campaign in 18 starts and is now 17-for-42 lifetime. With the victory, his seasonal earnings climbed past $150,000 while his lifetime bankroll surpassed the $600,000 mark.
Rock Shines Again returned $3.60 as the race favourite.
Luna had three wins on the 14-race card.
Driver Luke Hanners recorded four victories in the evening's first eight races, including Dancing Stranger in the $36,620 Open II Pace, sending the favoured three-year-old Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee to the front and never looking back in a sharp 1:51 triumph. The Tall Dark Stranger-Always B Dancing gelding is owned by Delaware's David Hamm and Evm Racing.
Saturday's 12th race was declared a No Contest for safety reasons after one of the horses made a bad break in stride at the start of the race and was pulled up. A representative from Dayton reported that the horse was humanely euthanized.
(With files from Dayton Raceway)