Allard Racing's Rock N Roll Rosie made an immediate impact upon coming to Saratoga Casino Hotel this spring.
The five-year-old World Of Rocknroll mare won her first three local starts and went on to prevail in five of her first six tries at the Spa for trainer Dolores Basilone and driver Jimmy Devaux. Following her win on June 29, Rock N Roll Rosie tested the waters in the local Open. She went on a cold streak for a month and on Friday night, Rock N Roll Rosie drew the rail in the $9,500 feature at Saratoga.
The early tempo in the feature was sizzling from the start and after fractions in the first half went in :26.2 and :55.3, the leader in the race faded and the backfield was set in motion. Open dropper Culinary Delight N (Larry Stalbaum) powered up first-over and cleared going to three-quarters but all the while Rock N Roll Rosie was closing in. Those two distaffers squared off around the final turn and took their battle into the stretch before Rock N Roll Rosie emerged victorious in 1:52, the fastest mile of the year for a pacing mare at the Spa. The win time also set a new lifetime mark for the mare who has now recorded six wins in her 11 local starts. Culinary Delight N was the runner-up while the favoured Frost Damage Blues (Phil Fluet) was late on the scene to finish third.
Rock N Roll Rosie was the second mare to set a new career mark on the evening for Basilone as she also teamed up with Devaux for a win with mare Wonderful World, who stopped the timer in a lifetime-best 1:53.2.
Rock N Roll Rosie paid $12.20 in her mild upset on Friday night.
Live racing continues on Saturday evening at Saratoga with a 7:05pm first post.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)