Rockem gamely held on after a tough trip to win the second of two $15,000 semi finals of the Summer Survivor Series for three-year-old conditioned pacers on Thursday night at Meadowlands Racetrack
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Left first up before the half, Rockem sustained his bid and held off Four Corners by a length in 1:51.4. Nathan Feelsgood was another half-length behind them in third. Driven by David Miller, Rockem paid $3 as he rolled to his fourth straight win.
“He's been racing really well,” Miller said. “He's been doing it a lot tougher uncovered, so I think he's got a pretty good shot in the final.”
Rockem stamped himself as the one to beat in the $100,000 Summer Survivor final on Saturday, July 2. He has now won six of 10 career starts for trainer Casie Coleman and owner Jeff Snyder. The son of Rocknroll Hanover-Dont Toy With Me was a $65,000 yearling purchase at the Lexington-Selected Sale.
Tyler Hanover, trained by Joe Pavia Jr., got up late to win the fifth race Summer Survivor division by a head over Sea Venture. Yannick Gingras steered the son of The Panderosa to a career best 1:51.1 clocking. The pacesetting favorite Waldy Jimmy finished third.
“The trip didn't quite work out the way I had wanted it to,” Gingras said. “I really wanted to sit behind the favorite [Waldy Jimmy] but it didn't work out until the last turn. I didn't have to use more horse until then, so I took a shot. Obviously something went wrong with the other horse. It's still a great mile.
“My horse is a bit tricky, you have to make him do his work,” Gingras added. “I could have cleared a little bit earlier but I waited because I know how he is. I still almost cleared too early because I almost got beat that way [by Sea Venture]. He can definitely go with them [in the final] but he's going to have to trip out like tonight.”
(Meadowlands Racetrack)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Meadowlands Racetrack.