Gold Rocks ($7.60) drew off to a four-length victory to take the $42,000 New Jersey Futurity for three-year-old New Jersey-sired pacers, the ninth race on Saturday, September 6 at Freehold Raceway.
George Brennan pushed the son of Rocknroll Hanover three-wide and to the lead on the second time on the backstretch, going by the pacesetting Art History (sired by Western Ideal), who hung on for second. It was four and a half lengths to Sweet Rock (by Rocknroll Hanover) in third. The mile was clocked in 1:53.1, a personal best for the Tony Alagna trainee.
Gold Rocks, a $15,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase, picked up his third win with three seconds and one third in 13 starts this year for earnings of $58,580. Lifetime, he has finished in the money in 11 of 20 starts for $124,798, including a two-year-old stakes win in the $96,200 Babic Pace and a third in last year’s $52,650 New Jersey Futurity.
The brown colt races for Mystical Marker Farms LLC of Dyer, Indiana, Eagles Soar Partners of Staten Island, New York, Alan Alber of Thornhill, Ont., and Joe Sbrocco of Brecksville, Ohio.
The New Jersey Futurity is restricted to New Jersey-sired horses and is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.
(With files from SBOANJ)