Rocknroll Runa A won Saratoga Raceway's Open Handicap Pace for the third time this season when the Larry Stalbaum trainee overcame post position eight to record the victory in the $15,000 feature on Saturday evening, Dec. 2.
The well-travelled Rocknroll Runa A came into the race with more than $216,000 in earnings on the year by way of 11 wins and dominated the competition despite getting a first-over trip in his return to town. Young reinsman Matt Athearn piloted the six-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven gelding, who overpowered the front-runner in the race before opening up an insurmountable lead past the three-quarter pole. Rocknroll Runa A stopped the timer in 1:53.1 on a chilly December evening in the Spa City to secure his third local Open win of 2023. Vintage Cheddar N (Brett Beckwith) was making his first start in over five weeks when he came charging hard to be a solid, albeit well-beaten, second in the feature. Islandspecialmajor (Jay Randall) earned the show spot.
Rocknroll Runa A was the 4-5 betting favourite despite having started from post eight in what was his 12th win of the season.
The victory served as the third in Opens at Saratoga in less than two weeks for the Stalbaum stable whose Big Box Hanover and Magical Maya A scored wins in the Open Trot and Fillies & Mares Open, respectively. Stalbaum owns the Aussie invader Rocknroll Runa A, who has enjoyed a sensational first season in North America.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)