Rock The Look, making a double jump up from conditioned ranks, surprised the Open mares at Miami Valley Raceway on Friday night (March 31) capturing the $22,000 feature for top distaff pacers at odds of 16-1.
A 10-time winner in 2016, the five-year-old Rockin Image daughter earned her initial 2017 triumph in her eighth try.
Last in the early going, driver Jason Brewer put Rock The Look into the outer flow after a quarter in :27.2 and a half in :55.3, but was drafting fourth in the second lane as the field raced four in and four out to the 1:24.1 three-quarter marker. Swinging five-wide at the head of the stretch, Rock The Look was part of a cavalry charge to the wire, getting the best of the others in the final couple strides. Favoured Jerseylicious (Trace Tetrick) made a game attempt to overcome an assigned outside post position, but fell just short. Art I Sweet (Ken Holliday) was next to cross the line in third in the field of eight, all of which finished within three lengths of the winner.
![](/sites/default/files/RockTheLook-033117-ConradPhoto-LRG-edit.jpg)
Trainer Joe Putnam and Suttons Bay Racing own Rock The Look, who increased her lifetime bankroll to $342,500 with her 19th win.
A pair of second round divisions of the Dr. Don Mossbarger Memorial late-closer for mares was also contested on Friday.
Stirling Euphoria (Chris Page) topped Clarebear (Kayne Kauffman) and Ohsowigglesspecial (Aaron Merriman) in 1:53.3 to stamp her ticket into the $27,500 championship final next week.
Youlookhot (Josh Sutton) withstood a judge’s inquiry, due to being forced inside pylons at the first quarter mark due to a breaking horse directly in front of her, to cop her second straight series victory in 1:54.2, beating Twin B Honour (Trace Tetrick) and odds-on favourite Kiss Me Onthebeach (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.). Dispatched at odds of 9-1, Youlookhot figures to get more attention from the punters playing the final.
(with files from Miami Valley Raceway)