Wednesday’s (June 9) program at Saratoga Casino Hotel featured two $10,000 second-leg divisions of the Virginia O’Brien Memorial Pacing Series, and Rckaroundtheclock N's career best 1:53 victory made the only entrant to become a two-leg winner.
In line to Greg Merton, the five-year-old A Rocknroll Dance mare cruised through a :56 first half before registering a measured one-length score, delivering as the 1-9 favourite. Rckaroundtheclock N, whom Amanda Kelley trains for the Scheigerd Racing Stable, bested fellow first-leg winner American Chance (Jimmy Devaux).
Clemmie Hanover, the runner-up to Rckaroundtheclock N in leg one, wound up as the 1-9 public choice in her O'Brien division — and she too delivered for trainer Dave Byer, who shares ownership with Jerry Hoffman. The four-year-old Roll With Joe mare marched out to an easy lead with Brian Cross piloting before clicking off a :58.2 half. Never facing an anxious moment, Clemmie Hanover paced away from her rivals to a seasonal best 1:55.4 win over Like A Peach (Billy Dobson) and Special Olivia (Alek Chartrand).
The series final is scheduled for next Wednesday (June 16) and carries a purse of over $30,000.
Live racing at Saratoga resumes on Monday (June 14) with first post set for 12 noon.
(with files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)