For the second consecutive week, an invader from Chicago captured the Open Trot at Running Aces on Wednesday night.
Rock Hollywood, a seven-year-old gelding who hadn't won in 21 starts over two years, trotted to an impressive victory over last week's winner, Trot Fudge Sundae (driven by Rick Magee), another recent Chicago newcomer, and Franky Provolone (Jason Ryan) to earn the winner's share of the $10,000 purse.
Leading driver Nick Roland made a quarter-move to the front and never looked back winning by a length and a quarter in 1:55.4, just one second off the all-time track trotting record.
Although Rock Hollywood was bred in Illinois and earned over $200,000 in his formative years, he raced exclusively in Norway in 2013 and early 2014 before being returned to the United States. He had two place finishes in Chicago after being returned to North America before being shipped by owner Mike Brink to trainer Brett Ballinger at Running Aces.
Toatsmygoats equalled a long-standing track record for two-year-old colts when he destroyed a field of Minnesota-sired freshmen pacers in 1:56.3. It was the Relentless Yankee colt's second win in as many tries, both chasing $13,000 state-restricted purses, for the Van Otterloo Stable, trainer Dave Flinn and driver Jason Ryan. The quick clocking matched the one of Chewy Baca – also owned by the Van Otterloo Stable and trained by Flinn – in 2011.
The 50-cent Pick 6 wager went unsolved for the seventh straight program, producing a carryover of $4,298.87 into the wager on Saturday night when racing resumes at Running Aces. The wagering pool could exceed $8,000 by the time the bet begins on the fifth through tenth race on Saturday. First-race post time is 7 p.m. (Central).
(Running Aces)