Classic Rock Nroll zipped up the passing lane to defeat heavy favourite and two-time champion Foiled Again in the $111,500 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park on Saturday night.
With Dan Noble in the bike, Classic Rock Nroll pushed Foiled Again (Yannick Gingras) before releasing him to a quarter of :26.4. After taking the lead, Foiled Again was challenged by Aracache Hanover (Aaron Merriman) to a half in :55 and three-quarters in 1:22.3. Noble popped Classic Rock Nroll into the passing lane and passed Foiled Again by half a length, stopping the timer in a career-best 1:50.3.
The five-year-old Rocknroll Hanover-Classic Wish gelding is trained by Tony O'Sullivan and owner Frank Bellino of Bronxville, New York.
"I spoke to Tony and he asked me if I could push him a little bit and said this horse would have a good kick at the end of the mile and it worked out perfect," said Noble.
The win pushes Classic Rock N Roll’s earnings to $492,710.
The final order of finish after Classic Rock Nroll was Foiled Again, Aracache Hanover, Flipper J, Trick Man, Valentino and Something For Doc.
Northfield Park hosted four divisions of Ohio Sires Stakes on the Battle of Lake Erie undercard. The two-year-old trotting colt divisions were won by Neely Spring and Noble in 2:04 and Heza Rube, driven by Kurt Sugg, in 2:03.2. The freshman pacing splits went to Feelin Lika Winner and Kayne Kauffman in 1:56.3 and That Friske Feelin, with Kyle Ater in the bike, in 1:57.4.
(With files from Northfield Park)