Fleet of foot stablemates Maureen Rocks and Laughandbehappy will go head-to-head Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack in the $100,000 A Spring Of Hope Invitational for trainer Tony O’Sullivan
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There’s no doubting that both mares have speed to burn. Just how fast are they? The duo shares the track record for aged pacing mares with A Ps Money Maker and Sweet Hedge, each boasting sparkling 1:49.1 performances. Laughandbehappy notched the mark on July 16 and Maureen Rocks equaled it on August 19.
O’Sullivan believes Maureen Rocks is just coming into her own at four.
“I really believe she is actually just learning how to race and learning how fast she actually can go,” he said.
The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Armbro Maureen has 11 wins, two seconds and one third-place finish in 15 lifetime outings. She has banked $138,330 for Emerald Highlands Farm.
“I think she will get better as the year goes on,” said O’Sullivan. “She clearly has gotten better and I think next year if she stays healthy and sound, she can be a major player with the big girls.”
Maureen Rocks has drawn the rail and will be driven by Scott Zeron, but driver Jody Jamieson and Laughandbehappy may have their work cut out for them from post nine.
“She’s been burdened with some outside posts whenever the money is down it seems, but she is a good mare," said the Cambridge resident. "She can do it either way. If she is as good as she has been, she should be right there as well.”
The five-year-old daughter of Badlands Hanover-Zinful has a lifetime record of 26-6-7 in 52 starts and career earnings of $507,945 for owners Let It Ride Stables Inc, Mentally Stable Inc, Robert Cooper Stables LLC and Jerry Silva.
The race is named after A Spring of Hope, a non-profit, international charity that raises money to help provide clean water sources for schools in South Africa.
The race was conceived as an Invitation and on the premise that in lieu of a Starting Fee, owners would be encouraged to make a donation to the charity.
As part of the $1 million Metro Pace undercard, the A Spring of Hope Invitational is slated for race three. First race post time is 7:10 p.m.
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To view entries for Saturday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Entries – Mohawk Racetrack.