Veteran Owner Still On Cloud Nine

Roland Rocco appreciates horsepower. The 73-year-old resident of LaSalle, Quebec is a longtime car salesman. He also is a longtime racehorse owner, now basking in the glow of his biggest win, Toocool Forschool’s 10-1 upset in a $138,915 division of the Champlain Stakes for two-year-old trotting colts last week at Mohawk Racetrack.

“I knew we’d be close, but that was stunning,” said Rocco, who co-owns the Kadabra colt with Benoit Gendron of Beaconsfield, QC.

Rocco has owned shares of horses for decades, but none had ever won a purse above $30,000.

“I went for $300,000 once (in a Coupe des Eleveurs final at Hippodrome de Montreal), but finished fifth behind Val Taurus with Sir Kapuccino,” he said.

Toocool Forschool, one of five horses in which Rocco now has an interest, cost just $10,500 at auction as a yearling. “We’d looked at him and thought he’d go for $35-$40,000. He’s got a tremendous gear: I know because I’ve jogged him. I refused big money for him after the race (Saturday).”

Trained by Glenn Lalonde, who Rocco calls “a hell of a trainer,” Toocool Forschool will start next in an overnight race before returning to Ontario Sires Stakes action, with as ultimate objective to qualify for this year’s $300,000 Super Final.

(Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)