by Dave Little, Meadowlands Media
Relations
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ
– Boston
Red Rocks may have been given a bit of a scare at the wire, but ended a trend
of high-profile beaten favorites on Saturday night at the Meadowlands, scoring
in his 2016 debut in a division of the New Jersey Sire Stakes for 3-year-old
colt and gelding pacers.
The Steve Elliott
trainee, who is pointing toward the Meadowlands Pace, was permitted to set
tepid fractions of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.1 while unchallenged. Ideal Rocky, who
sat the pocket throughout, stayed with the 1-9 favorite and sprinted home
during the final sixteenth to come up just a head short of pulling off the
upset. Katies Rocker was third.Boston Red Rocks went
the mile in a lifetime-best equaling 1:50.3 with Tim Tetrick in the bike and
paid $2.20 to win for owners Peter Blood and Rick Berks.
Earlier on the card,
chalk players took two big punches to the chin.
Maestro Blue Chip stayed
perfect in 10 starts this season, winning a division of the Graduate Series for
4-year-old trotters in a lifetime-best 1:51.3.
Pinkman, the 2015
Hambletonian champion who was upset a week ago in his first start of the year,
tasted defeat for a second straight outing as the 3-5 public choice. Like last
week, Pinkman had a clear lead at three-quarters but could not maintain his
advantage to the wire, settling for third as Crescent Fashion closed to get the
place spot, 1½ lengths behind the winner.
Facing by far the
stiffest task he’s had this year, Maestro Blue Chip was sent off at odds of
30-1 and returned $63.20 to his backers. David Miller drove the Jo Ann
Looney-King trainee for owner Richard Poillucci
In a division of the
Graduate for 4-year-old pacers, another short favorite went down as
Confederation Cup winner Rockin Ron lost for the first time in 11 starts this
year, coming up a half-length short to Artistic Major, who scored for the team
of Elliott and Tetrick in 1:48.1, a lifetime best.
After grabbing the early
lead, 1-5 shot Rockin Ron was shuffled back after several lead changes and had
to overcome a three-hole trip. As Artistic Major was tipping off cover and
storming home to victory, Rockin Ron was desperately seeking room to race and
did not find a clear path until the sixteenth pole. He had explosive pace from
there to get second. Split The House was third.
Artistic Major returned
$20.40 to win for owners Van Dusen, Cimaglio, Elliott and Patel.
THE CLIMB CONTINUES: The 12th race 20 cent
Jackpot Super High Five once again did not have a single-ticket winner, meaning
that the carryover for the next program has now swelled to $231,017.66. …
All-source wagering on the card totaled $2,778,867. … The Meadowlands is back with
live racing Friday at 7:15 p.m.
