Doo Wop Hanover,
Rockeyed Optimist headline overflow field on Friday, June 19 at the Meadowlands
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ (June
17, 2015) – Through the first two
legs of the Graduate Series for four-year-old pacers, it would be hard to find
a trainer holding a stronger hand than Steve Elliott. Elliott has swept the
series so far with his devastating duo of Doo Wop Hanover and Rockeyed
Optimist. The pair will finally face each other as part of an overflow field of
12 going the extended 1 1/8 mile distance in the third leg of the Graduate
Series on Friday (June 19) at the Meadowlands.
“You never know what will
happen in a twelve-horse field going that distance,” said Elliott. “We’ll let
the drivers decide what to do when the race starts.”
In the opening leg of the
series on May 25 at Tioga Downs, Rockeyed Optimist won his division in 1:48.1
while Doo Wop Hanover won his division in 1:47.4, the fastest mile ever at the
Upstate New York track. The sons of Rocknroll Hanover came back to each win
their respective divisions in leg two of the series at the Meadowlands on June
6 in 1:48.
“Tioga was pretty impressive.
The Meadowlands is just a fast track, but I really think they both have 1:47
miles in them,” said Elliott without hesitation.
Both horses are prime
examples of why Meadowlands chairman Jeff Gural has advocated for more racing
opportunities for four-year-olds. ‘Doo Wop’ and ‘Rockeyed’ were talented horses
last year, but have blossomed into top-class racehorses after an extra year to
develop.
“The older horses all have
four 26-second quarters in them which makes them so tough,” said Elliott in
explaining four-year-olds versus older horses. “The three and four-year-olds
can give you three 26-second quarters with a 27-second quarter. It’s a big
change from three to four and racing against just four-year-olds puts them on a
more even keel.”
Doo Wop Hanover will be
reunited with his regular driver John Campbell, who missed driving him in his
previous start while racing out of town. Tim Tetrick will once again get the
drive on Rockeyed Optimist.
Elliott’s horses are hardly
the only top contenders in Friday’s race. Ron Burke sends out a pair of
millionaires, recent Confederation Cup winner All Bets Off and last year’s
North America Cup winner JK Endofanera. Burke will also be represented by
Little Brown Jug champion Limelight Beach.
Friday’s twelve-race card
also includes the third leg of the Graduate Series for four-year-old trotters
featuring a much-anticipated rematch between champion Father Patrick and the
red-hot JL Cruze, who upset ‘Patrick’ two weeks ago in the second leg of the
series. The 1:51 win was the eighth straight victory for JL Cruze, who has won
14 out of 17 races since trainer Eric Ell purchased him for $37,000 at last
year’s Harrisburg Sale for owners Kenneth Wood, Bill Dittmar, Jr., and Stephen
Iaquinta.
Handicappers will also have a
pair of six-figure carryovers to chase on Friday in the two Jackpot Super High
5 wagers. The fifth race carryover is $159,224 while the last race carryover is
$136,155.
Post time is 7:15 p.m.
