Conventional harness racing wisdom tells us that when a horse is moving well unpressured on the lead in a short field, it should be a done deal that’s the winner. So, you could say that Rocket Man Hill’s victory in the Saturday, March 15 feature at The Meadowlands, a $25,000 high-end conditioned trot, was anything but conventional.
Making his fourth start of 2025 – all at The Big M – Rocket Man Hill displayed explosive late trot to win for the second time this season (he was second in the other two), and in the process, lowered his lifetime best to 1:54.
“The connections are very happy with him,” said winning trainer Mike Russo of the four-year-old gelded son of Muscle Hill-Drinking Class who was acquired by owner Rose Colangelo after his win on Feb. 28.
With a second in his first start for his new owner and trainer, and a win on Saturday, the early returns have been good.
The original field of eight was reduced to five after scratches, one of which was Rock My Universe, who would have been gunning for a fourth consecutive Meadowlands win. Finite, the 8-5 second choice, took full advantage of the rail and led the quintet past the quarter in :27.2 and the half in :56.1.
Just before the five-eighths, 6-5 public choice Lukes Bar, looking for his third victory in four tries, vacated the four-hole and went up after the leader on the rim uncovered, providing a live tow for Rocket Man Hill as Finite hit three-quarters in 1:25.1.
At the head of the stretch, Rocket Man Hill swung widest of all, and fired home through the lane, catching Finite nearing the wire, besting that one by a half-length. Lukes Bar settled for third.
“The fractions were hot for this group,” said winning driver Brett Beckwith. “Honestly, I didn’t know how it would play out. He trotted a good last quarter so I have no complaints. It was my first time driving this horse but Russo gave me great info.”
“We had very dull cover, so he did well to trot home a winner,” said Russo. “He’ll have next week off and come back the following week.”
As the 5-2 third choice, Rocket Man Hill returned $7.40 to his backers. He now has four wins from 23 lifetime starts.
A carryover of $3,795 motivated players to put $21,779 of “new money” into the 20-cent Pick-6 pool for a grand total of $25,574. After a sequence that had winners' odds of 8-1, 5-2, 5-2, 6-1, 4-5 and 2-1, those with winning tickets cashed in for $3,141.96.
The top three drivers in the Big M standings all won three times on the program. Beckwith leads the way thus far in 2025 with 41 wins, followed by Jason Bartlett (37) and Dave Miller (33).
All-source handle totalled $3,067,122 USD on the 14-race card.
Racing resumes on Friday, March 21 at The Meadowlands at 6:20 p.m.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)