Rockincam continued his December dominance over the Open pacers at Harrah's Chester while Ron Pierce was the authoritative winner of the $50,000 Driving Challenge Sunday afternoon at the Chester oval
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In between the eight-race driving competition, Rockincam ($6.20) earned his third straight victory in the $60,000 Open Handicap Pace with driver David Miller working out the winning trip.
Miller sent Rockincam to the top from the outside Post 8 and led the way past panels of :27, :55.4 and 1:22.1 before holding off Fools Gold and Tim Tetrick to win by a neck in 1:51 flat. The win four-year-old's ninth of the season in 21 starts for trainer Richard 'Nifty' Norman and owner Stephen Farrell of Ocala, Florida. With his earnings, the son of Cambest out of Migraine watched his career bankroll climb to $343,775.
Meanwhile, Pierce added $15,000 to his own bankroll after winning three driving challenge races to secure the championship title and earnings bonus. Pierce scored his wins with the Mark Ford-trained Livefreeordiehard ($6.80), Strange Hanover($6) for conditioner Michael Taub, and Lord Terror ($8.40) for trainer Joseph Hundertpfund Jr.
George Napolitano earned two wins with Panfully Cool ($4) for trainer Joann Looney-King and West River Victory ($14.40) for trainer Jason Robinson to propel him into second place while Tim Tetrick ranked third after a consistent showing in which he finished second in half of the challenge races. Second and third-place finishers will take home $10,000 and $8,000, respectively. Consolation prizes for fourth through eighth-place range from $6,000 to $1,000. The other drivers competing included (in order of finish) Daniel Dube, Andy Miller, David Miller, Corey Callahan, and Yannick Gingras.
All eight drivers will donate 10 per cent of their afternoon winnings to Operation Warm, a southeastern Pennsylvania philanthropic organization who gives disadvantaged children coats to keep warm during the winter. Additionally, standardbred owner Peter Grandich matched the $5,000 contribution.