Defending champion Scorpion Moon returns to Rockingham Park on Sunday as he takes the initial step toward becoming the first back-to-back winner in the history of the Joseph Carney Memorial Trot, which is held annually to honour the track's late owner and president
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Scorpion Moon, who won the Carney last year in 1:55.2, is among some very talented invaders taking on the top trotters on the grounds in a pair of $12,500 eliminations. The $30,000 final of the Carney will be presented on Sunday, August 30, which is also the closing day of the 2009 live harness meet.
In the first $12,500 elimination, the eighth event on Sunday's 11-race card, Scorpion Moon has been installed as the early 7-2 second choice in the field of seven. The eight-year-old gelding will try to make amends for a dull effort and last place finish in the $50,000 Joe Ricci Memorial at Scarborough Downs last time out despite being dispatched at even money. For Sunday's race at Rockingham, Scorpion Moon gets a driver switch from Kevin Switzer to Richard Wojcio, who currently ranks second in the Rockingham standings with 61 victories.
In the second $12,500 elimination carded as the 10th race, local favourite and track record holder Slim Down drew the inside post and the 5-2 morning line favouritism in the field of six. Slim Down, with owner and trainer Jim Hardy handling the reigns as he always does, has always taken to the Rockingham racing strip and has set track, New England, and even a World Record here. In 2006, the now seven-year-old gelding established the mark of 1:55.2 for four-year-old trotting geldings and that same year he set the World Record of 1:48.1 for the most unusual distance of 15/16ths of a mile.
Slim Down, the winner of eight of 15 starts during his 2009 campaign, has won five of his last seven starts at The Rock and been second the other two times. On July 5, he partnered with Hardy for the driver's career milestone of 4,500 career wins.
While Slim Down is clearly a sentimental favourite as well as a very good and game horse, he faces a stiff test from Meadowlands invader Proud Moment. As the 7-2 second choice, who has six wins this year against some salty competition, the four-year-old gelding will have the services of Alessandro Spano in the bike. Locally based Andover America, the 9-2 third choice, retains regular driver Bruce Ranger and also figures to attract strong support at the windows.
In addition to the two $12,500 Carney eliminations on Sunday's card, there will be a pair of $3,600 legs of the inaugural running of the Battle of New England trotting division and both races feature full 10-horse fields. The second leg will be part of the undercard one week from Sunday when the races are capped by the $30,000 Joseph Carney Memorial Trot final, and the Battle of New England will be decided in the final at Plainridge Race Course on September 7.
Live racing resumes at Rockingham on Saturday with a 10-race card and post time of 1:05 p.m.
(Rockingham Park)