Pacers were on display in New Jersey Sire Stakes - Green Acres action on Saturday, September 12 at Freehold Raceway.
Winning efforts were turned in by Roland N Rock and Smart Zone, both three-year-olds by Rocknroll Hanover, and LL Jackpot, a two-year-old daughter of Philos Hanover. Each division carried a $7,000 purse.
Roland N Rock ($2.10), driven by Daniel Dube and trained by Rob Harmon, was the odds-on pick in the colt and gelding division and delivered a length and a half victory over Artsmah (sired by Western Ideal) in the third race. Edward Tech (by Rocknroll Hanover) was third by a length in three-quarters. The mile was timed in 1:54.3.
The Perretti-bred gelding took the lead at the quarter and was on top at every pole. Owned by Duane and Connie Roland of Grinnell, Iowa, Roland N Rock has six wins and two seconds in 10 starts this year and has won 20 of 24 career outings for a bankroll now over $160,000.
In the three-year-old filly division, the sixth race, longshot Smart Zone ($29) was a length winner over Lissan (by Rocknroll Hanover). Favourite Strut My Stuff (by Western Ideal) cut the mile and faded to third by a length and three-quarters. Smart Zone, driven by Eric Abbatiello, paced the mile in 1:56.2.
Bred by Winbak Farm, the filly is trained by Matias Ruiz for Roslyn Delgaudio of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The win was her third to go along with two seconds in 16 starts this year. She has seven wins, four seconds and two thirds in 28 career starts for a bankroll topping $80,000.
LL Jackpot, co-bred and owned by his trainer, Ivan Llopez, made it two straight in Green Acres competition for two-year-old filly pacers in a non-wagering event.
She finished a half-length ahead of On Top Ofthe Rock and two and a quarter ahead of Rocknroll Palz in third. The runner-ups are both by Rocknroll Hanover. Jim Marshall III guided LL Jackpot in her 2:02 mile.
LL Jackpot has two wins in six starts and earnings of $13,900 for Llopez and Louis T. Ferdinandi’s LTF Racing Stable of Clark, New Jersey.
(With files from SBOANJ)