Rock N Roll Heaven, the richest harness horse of 2010, leads five sophomores who were entered Tuesday for the 55th edition of Yonkers Raceway's Messenger Stakes
- the third jewel of the Pacing Triple Crown.
The limited number of entrants means the race is a one-dash-for-the-cash event for the third consecutive time and fourth time in the past five renewals. The total/final purse is $437,100.
The connections of Rock N Roll Heaven - owner Frank Bellino of nearby Bronxville, that is - took $60,000 from the colt's $1.8 million war chest to supplement to the Messenger. For the season, the son of Rocknroll Hanover has 13 wins - including seven-in-a-row - two seconds and one third in 18 starts. He won the $500,000 final of Breeders Crown along with the $410,789 final of the Little Brown Jug (winning elim and final in identical 1:49.2 efforts), and makes his local debut off a win in the $604,000 Tattersalls this past Saturday at The Red Mile.
Bruce Saunders trains and Dan Dube drives the Harness Horse of the Year favourite, who has won 17-of-27 career starts and more than $2.4 million.
One More Laugh, who counts the million-dollar Meadowlands Pace (nailing Rock N Roll Heaven on the money) and Yonkers' $294,965 Art Rooney among his seven-win, $1.3 million season, returns to the small surface. He is the sport's second-richest pacer this season, finishing a hard-charging second to Rock N Roll Heaven this past Saturday.
Trainer Ray Schnittker and shares ownership with Mathias Meinzinger and Jerry Silva. The Mcardle gelding will be driven by Tim Tetrick.
Two-time New York Sire Stakes champion Hes Gorgeous, who has enjoyed tremendous success in Westchester, brings a .680 lifetime batting average (17-for-25) into this event. The Art Major colt is owned by Ken Jacobs, trained and Linda Toscano and driven by Jim Morrill, Jr.
The quintet is rounded out by Tobago Cays and Urgent Action.
The companion event to the Messenger Stakes, the $326,680 Lady Maud Pace for sophomore fillies, saw seven drop in - making it a single sojourn, as well.
The purse was bolstered by more supplements than the average health food store. The connections of three fillies shelled out $30,000 each for the privilege.
New York Sire Stakes champion Anndrovette, Cannae Cammie and Naughtytiltheend were all "buy-ins" to the Lady Maud.
Anndrovette, a daughter of Riverboat King, has seven wins and more than $300,000 on account this season.
Naughtytiltheend, fresh from a 68-1 shocker in her $159,000 division of the Tattersalls last Friday at the Red Mile (life-best 1:50.2), looks to add to her seasonal bankroll of better than $276,000. The well-bred daughter of Western Ideal has won seven of her 24 tries this season.
Cannae Cammie, making her first start for co-owner and trainer Ettore Annunziata, has a pair of six-figure earnings season to her credit.
Hulas Z Tam, a NYSS champ at two with career earnings just under $600,000, and Its De Lovely, winner of this season's Lismore Pace here, are also part of the mix, as are Barks Like a Dog and Discoverer.
Please note that post positions for both stakes races shall be drawn on Tuesday, November 2. The finals are scheduled for Saturday, November 6.
(Yonkers Raceway)