Rockincam nosed out Meirs Hanover in a thrilling stretch duel to win the featured condition pace on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs
. The race, for winners of over $25,000 lifetime, carried a purse of $25,000.
Rockincam, the 3-5 favourite in the field of eight off a win in Preferred company at The Meadowlands, left from the rail and settled third early as Meirs Hanover hit the quarter in front in :26.2.
Driver David Miller sent Rockincam, a five-year-old stallion from the barn of Nifty Norman, to the outside in the straightaway of the front stretch, clearing to the lead just shy of the clubhouse turn.
Rockincam and Meirs Hanover stayed in first and second from that point. Rockincam reached the half in :54.4 and three-quarters in 1:21.4.
In the stretch, driver Matt Kakaley tried the inside passing lane with Meirs Hanover and nearly corralled the leader, but Rockincam prevailed by a nose in 1:49, a new career-mark and the first sub-1:50 mile of the 2012 meet at Pocono. Drop Red finished third.
With the win, the son of Cambest is now is two-for-three this season and has 17 lifetime wins in just 31 tries. His career earnings stand at $372,975. Rockincam is owned and bred by Stephen Farrell of Ocala, Florida.
In the featured trot of the night, also a winners over $25,000 condition with a $25,000 purse, the combination of David Miller and Nifty Norman were at it again, scoring with Beatgoeson Hanover, who used a first-over backstretch move to get the lead and eventually the victory in 1:54.3. The mare won by a neck over fast-closing Cassis, with Sand Top Gun getting the show. The Andover Hall miss is owned by Neven Botica of Perth, Australia.
(Pocono Downs)