Roll With Joe, the richest harness horse in North America this season, drew post position three for Yonkers Raceway's Messenger Stakes
.
The 56th edition of the final leg of the Pacing Triple Crown goes as Saturday night's sixth race, a one-dash-for-the-cash event worth $401,000. Post time is approximately 8:50 p.m.
Roll With Joe, a son of Cams Card Shark, lists the million-dollar Meadowlands Pace on the resume of a $1.4-million earnings season. Roll With Joe has five wins, four seconds a pair of thirds in 13 starts this season, with his actual bankroll at $1,441,010. He won Chester's $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine and was beaten a lip in last month's $501,950 final of the Breeders Crown at Woodbine. Roll With Joe also finished second in the $252,864 final of the Little Brown Jug.
Roll With Joe is co-owned by (breeder) Winbak Farm, Blue Chip Bloodstock, Stephen Demeter and Not To Worry Stable and trained by Ed Hart. Ron Pierce has the assignment for the colt's second local appearance, the first being a mid-October qualifier.
"He's coming into this race in great shape," Hart said. "We're looking forward to it and ready to go."
New York Sire Stakes champ Mojo Terror, with a dozen wins this more than $314,000 to his credit this season. He landed post position two among the half-dozen three-year-olds, four colts and two geldings. The homebred (Perfect World Enterprises) gelded son of Western Terror is trained by Chris Oakes for Bulletproof Enterprises. Brian Sears does the honours.
Here’s the field in post position order
$401,000 Messenger Stakes
1. Sea Venture - Jason Bartlett
2. Mojo Terror - Brian Sears
3. Roll With Joe - Ron Pierce
4. Sir Ziggys Tam - Pat Lachance
5. Keystone Velocity - Dan Dube
6. Rollwithitharry - TBA
The companion event to the Messenger, the $194,890 Lady Maud Pace, goes a four-horse, non-bettor at 6 p.m. Here’s the field:
$194,890 Lady Maud Pace
1. Krispy Apple - Jim Morrill, Jr.
2. Rocklamation - Brian Sears
3. City Delight - TBA
4. New Album - Ron Pierce
(Yonkers Raceway)