Ever since Rock N Roll Heaven started to put in some big miles last year as a two-year-old, trainer Bruce Saunders told everyone that his Rocknroll Hanover colt was the real deal. Heading into Saturday's Burlington Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack, the colt is continuing to walk the walk
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Courtesy of his 1:48.3 mile at the Meadowlands Racetrack in his division of the $200,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes finals on May 29, Rock N Roll Heaven is the fastest three-year-old thus far in this 2010 racing campaign.
The career winner of eight of 14 races and $850,386 in purse earnings has drawn Post 2 for Sunders and driver Dan Dube in the second of three $100,000 divisions of the Burlington, which will no doubt be the focal point of Mohawk Racetrack's card of racing this Saturday.
“I think his record speaks for itself -- he’s bigger, stronger and faster,” Saunders told the Woodbine Entertainment Group. “I think he’s getting better with every start and that’s what you want to see at this stage. I wouldn’t trade colts with anybody at this point.”
Coming into this year, Saunders was pointing Rock N Roll Heaven towards three major races: the North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace and Breeders Crown.
With five starts under his belt already, the compact pacer has a head start on some of his primary rivals in the division and that suits the trainer just fine.
“I’ve taken a little criticism for racing him in some of these earlier races,” Saunders admitted. “But I really feel that these colts have to be stretched out before they come into races like this. His only loss this year came in the Berry’s Creek elimination and I think he needed that both physically and mentally. He’s realizing he’s not out there to play and he’s been a better horse since that race.”
Rock N Roll Heaven was pegged as the 8-1 third choice in Trot Magazine's 2010 Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book.
The NA Cup will get underway with eliminations on Saturday, June 19 prior to the $1.5 million final on Saturday, June 26.
The complete fields for each of the Burlington divisions appear below.
For a free, printable program pages of each of the Burlington divisions courtesy of TrackIT, click the appropriate links below.
Division 1 (Race 5)
PP - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Malicious - P. MacDonell
2 - Dr Dreamy - C. Callahan
3 - Kyle Major - J. Jamieson
4 - Sportswriter - M. MacDonald
5 - Grin For Money - J. Moiseyev
6 - Willies Place - L. Ouellette
7 - Im Gorgeous - C. Callahan
8 - OK Commander - D. McNair
9 - Twin B Warrior - J. Jamieson
10 - Code Word - J. Jamieson
Division 2 (Race 8)
PP - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Future Million - S. Allard
2 - Rock N Roll Heaven - D. Dube
3 - Rock Me Please - S. Condren
4 - Ideal Matters - D. Palone
5 - Windfall Blue Chip - C. Callahan
6 - Stonebridge Tonic - D. McNair
7 - Art N Charm - M. Saftic
8 - Mach Dreamer - L. Ouellette
9 - Rojettes Best - TBA
10 - Triple Major - S. Filion
11 - Shipps Xtravganza - R. Waples
Division 3 (Race 9)
PP - Horse - Listed Driver
1 - Touch The Rock - R. Waples
2 - Luckcamotion - K. Oliver
3 - Mcaracas - M. Baillargeon
4 - BP Chimo - S. Filion
5 - Delmarvalous - C. Callahan
6 - Woodstock - D. Palone
7 - Aracache Hanover - D. McNair
8 - Keystone Raptor - J. Moiseyev
9 - Trick Man - R. Paver
10 - Warrawee Legend - R. Zeron
To view the complete entries for Mohawk's Saturday card, click here.
(With files from WEG)