Planet Rock ($7.90) remained undefeated through four career starts via a sparkling 1:52 mile in her $55,500 New York Sire Stakes event for two-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (August 6) night at Vernon Downs.
Planet Rock enjoyed a cozy mid-pack stalking spot early on, perching just off the top trio as 48-1 outsider Takeyourbreathaway (Billy Davis Jr.) worked to command before rating a :56.1 half-mile. With seven-sixteenths of the mile to go, Planet Rock slid second-over to draft behind a strong middle move from even-money favourite World Apart (Tim Tetrick), only to be left uncovered on entry to the far turn. Jim Marohn Jr. continued to progress with the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven and Villa Hanover, achieving the lead midway on the far turn.
Planet Rock would face stern resistance from World Apart off the corner, but she started to edge away at the eighth pole just as World Apart stumbled. Planet Rock ultimately drew off to win by two and three-quarter lengths, missing See You At Peelers's track record for freshman pacing fillies by two-fifths of a second. Thats The Ticket (Marcus Miller) worked into second off live cover, while Artrageous (Jim Morrill Jr.) emerged from traffic to save third.
Planet Rock gave owner Kenneth Jacobs and trainer Linda Toscano a sweep of the jointly-favoured New York Sire Stakes events, as their Robin J ($5.10) vaulted off second-over cover to capture the earlier co-feature in 1:54.3. Tim Tetrick was aboard the daughter of Roll With Joe and Mommy Robin Q for the half-length triumph over American Cheer (John MacDonald) and Thats How We Roll (Ray Schnittker).
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Wednesday (August 10), with a special nine-race twilight card due to commence at 5:10 p.m.
(Vernon Downs)