Having speed laid ahead of him, Ocean Rock tracked a bold backside move by 9-5 favourite Nicholas Beach and kicked by that rival in the stretch to narrowly upset in the $135,000 Jim Ewart Memorial Pace on Saturday (Sept. 11) at Scioto Downs.
Gold Digger King grabbed the lead from This Is The Plan to a :25.2 first quarter while Workin Ona Mystery raced parked but nonetheless advanced to challenge Gold Digger King for the lead. The pair battled as Little Rocket Man grabbed cover to race second over, Nicholas Beach tipped third over and Ocean Rock positioned himself fourth over into a :52.3 half.
Workin Ona Mystery retreated up the backside, forcing the backfield around him. Gold Digger King also started to tire as Little Rocket Man sprung three wide and soon seized the lead moving to three-quarters. Nicholas Beach also rolled three wide with Ocean Rock on his back but caught four wide by three-quarters in 1:20.1 and he then put a head in front of Little Rocket Man off the turn. Ocean Rock kept rolling wide coming into the stretch and slid a neck in front of Nicholas Beach at the beam to stop the clock in 1:49.1. Sectionline Bigry raced through traffic to finish third and This Is The Plan took fourth.
Returning $39.60 to win, Ocean Rock collected his fifth win from 13 starts this season and his 16th from 32 overall, earning $726,622 for owner-breeder Sandra Burnett. Dan Noble drove the winner for trainer Christi Noble.