Illinois top three-year-old pacing colts took to the track on Saturday night at Balmoral Park as an overflow field of 11 were sent to battle in the $9,000 Oakbrook Terrace OTB Stake. After a thrilling stretch duel that had the holiday weekend crowd on their feet, Rockin Rumble sent shockwaves through the state-bred ranks as he out dueled Dutch Richman
to win by a nose in a career best of 1:50.2.
Using the inside post to their advantage, driver John Roberts left alertly with Rockin Rumble and wound up landing in the pocket spot as Big Gus (Brian Carpenter) led the field through an opening split in :27.
With the action heating up like the temperatures outside as the sophomores moved down the backside, Roberts suddenly found himself shuffled to fifth. Deftly maneuvering the son of Sportsmaster-Rockin Roll Dancer to the outside, Roberts managed to pick up live cover from a hard charging Dutch Richman (Marcus Miller) as the field raced by the half-mile mark in :55.
Heading around the bend, Dutch Richman, the overwhelming 2-5 favourite in the race, easily blew right around the early leaders leaving Roberts and Rockin Rumble first over in second but just a length behind as they sped by the three-quarter-mile mark in 1:22.4.
Through the lane a game Dutch Richman, who was making his first start back in the Prairie State after shipping north of the border to race in the $1.5 million North America Cup, was still holding on to a one and a quarter length lead. A determined Rockin Rumble was not about to give up though.
Gradually wearing down last season’s Orange & Blue winner, Rockin Rumble pulled alongside Dutch Richman with a sixteenth of a mile to go and the fun began. With the two trading blows the rest of the way, Rockin Rumble finally managed to get a nose in front in the final stride to get the victory.
With tonight's win, the bay gelding now boasts six wins, two seconds and one third in 14 starts this year with earnings of $26,662 for the partnership of Jim Edgar, Terry Rathgeber, Ted Lock and Jim Reynolds. Sent off at a healthy 15-1, the Kristopher Reynolds trainee returned a healthy $32.40, $8.80 and $4.20.
The state-bred stakes action continues on Sunday, July 3 with a field of 10 three-year-old trotting fillies slugging it out in Race 8, which is the $9,000 Crestwood OTB Stake. There is also a carryover in the 50 Cent Pick 5 wager of $3,611.50. As part of the USTA’s Strategic Wagering program, Sunday’s Pick 5 will have a guaranteed pool of $15,000. The Pick 5 consists of Races 2 thru 6 each night. The Pick 4 on Sunday night also carries a $25,000 guarantee as part of that program. The Pick 4 with its low 15 per cent takeout is contested on the final four races of the night.
(Balmoral Park)