Rocknroll Runa A prevailed in the $22,603 Winners Over/Open Handicap Pace on Saturday, Feb. 28 at Saratoga Casino Hotel, giving trainer Larry Stalbaum his third Open win of the young meet at The Spa.
Stalbaum’s Blazing Home N scored in the featured race for pacers twice early in the month, and on Saturday, Rocknroll Runa A made hit a triple for the stable as the nine-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven-Shes A Runa got home as the 8-5 second-choice in the top class.
Coming off a race in which he was parked the mile, Stalbaum found Rocknroll Runa A an early spot in fourth. The favoured Hezzz A Wise Sky (Jacob Cutting) carved out the fractions, reaching the front in a first quarter of :27.1 and cruising to the half in :56.1. Stalbaum made his move in front of the stands with Rocknroll Runa A, who confronted the leader as they raced to three-quarters in 1:24.2 and cleared him on the final turn. He recorded his first victory of the year when he stopped the timer in 1:53, holding on by a head over the charging Tenzing Bromac N (Ron Cushing), who finished second in his debut in the local Open. Hezzz A Wise Sky finished third.
Stalbaum owns, trains and drives Rocknroll Runa A, who has earned $994,793 and won 41 times in 149 career starts. The winner returned $5.50.
There was an accident in the final race of the card in which driver Kyle Swift was unseated. Coming off the last turn, Jimble Kimble (Leon Bailey) bore out from the pocket and made contact with Pace N Pride N (Swift), who stumbled and went on a break. The latter hooked wheels with Vel Scotty Boy (Brett Crawford) as he lost ground, causing Swift to fall. All horses stayed up, and Pace N Pride N galloped through the wire. Swift was quickly back on his feet and ran down the stretch to bring Pace N Pride N under control. The reinsman later posted to social media that he was "alright." Jimble Kimble, who finished second, was disqualified and placed seventh for interference.
Live racing continues on Sunday at Saratoga with a matinee that begins at noon.
(With files from Saratoga Raceway)