Rockin In Heaven received the majority of the hype heading into the first leg of the Summertime Series on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack, but he needed every inch of determination to pull out the victory.
A field of 10 three-year-old pacing colts and geldings contested the $18,000 opening leg of the Summertime Series under rainy and windy conditions.
Rockin In Heaven was returning to Mohawk for the first time since winning a division of the Somebeachsomewhere Stakes on June 6. In between “The Beach” and Saturday’s contest, the Dr. Ian Moore trainee went south of the border and finished second in a New York Sires Stakes leg at Vernon Downs.
Sent off as the heavy 1-5 favourite, Rockin In Heaven got away in third and made a second-quarter brush to the front for driver Trevor Henry. Battling a strong headwind down the backstretch, Rockin In Heaven got the field down to the three-quarter pole in 1:27. Poisonous and driver Sylvain Filion came first up around the final turn and got on even terms with the favourite as they entered the stretch. After pacing by the eighth-pole side-by-side, Poisonous took a slight lead over Rockin In Heaven and appeared to be charging home to victory, but the public’s choice dug deep to battle back in the final strides and win by a neck in 1:53.3. Rustys Overload finished third with Phil Hudon aboard, while Official Prince rounded out the top-four for Mario Baillargeon.
A son of Rock N Roll Heaven, Rockin In Heaven now has five wins from seven starts this season for owners Moore, Douglas Polley, Francois Lecomte and Gordon McComb.
Saturday’s victory was the eighth overall for Rockin In Heaven and increased his career earnings to $93,977.
A $2 win ticket on the favourite returned a profit of $0.60.
The second leg of the Summertime Series will take place next Saturday (July 4).
In addition to Henry's win with Rockin In Heaven, he also scored with Craig Barss' Ideal Jet and Preferred winner Piston Broke, who is trained and co-owned by Rob Fellows. The 1:51 victory was Piston Broke's first of the season.
Trainer Carmen Auciello teamed up with driver Jonathan Drury for a Saturday night triple with Justcallmeronald, near-millionaire Camaes Fellow and Mach Pride.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)