Nichols, N.Y. -- First-time starter Rock the Boat ($4.30)
dropped jaws in his career debut on Friday (July 29) evening at Tioga Downs,
dominating eight other 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings in his $37,966 New
York Sire Stakes event in going-away fashion.
Jim Marohn, Jr. was patient early with the royally-bred son
of Rock N Roll Heaven and Tug River Princess, stalking comfortably behind an
early charge led by 100-1 outsider This Is My Song (Aaron Byron), who pushed
clear from post 9 through a :26.4 initial quarter. With a circuit to go, Rock
the Boat powered clear from fourth, making up nearly five lengths to overtake
This Is My Song on approach to the clubhouse turn.
After pulling the pace back through a :56.3 half, Rock the
Boat braced for a first-over bid from Pointomygranson (Jim Morrill, Jr.), but
accelerated in kind through a :27.4 third quarter. Once Pointomygranson's bid
concluded, the main danger for Rock the Boat was Very Special Agent (Jason
Bartlett), who switched off cover to keep the pressure on just above the eighth
pole. Rock the Boat accelerated away while kept to task, mounting a 3-1/4
length margin en route to a 1:52.4 victory. Very Special Agent maintained
runner-up honors, while Octane Blue Chip (Phil Fluet) emerged off third-over
cover to claim third.
Ross Croghan trains Rock the Boat for the Let It Ride
Stables, Inc. and Mr. Dana Parham.
Sons of Roll With Joe captured the other two Sire Stakes
splits on the 13-race card for trainer Ron Burke, with Miso Fast ($2.50, part
of entry) and Rock It Scott ($5.80) prevailing in their respective events.
Miso Fast, a son of Roll With Joe and Sakura Hanover, used a
second-over trip behind Thrdthrsdaynsptmbr (Ken Holliday) to work closer to
pacesetter Windsong Napoleon (Scott Coulter) on the far turn before vaulting to
the fore off the corner. Jim Morrill, Jr. drove Miso Fast to a 1:53.1 victory
over stablemate Offdahook Bluechip (Joe Bongiorno), while Windsong Napoleon
checked in a worn-down third.
Rock It Scott had a more eventful journey, yielding to an
aggressive Music Is Art (Morrill) on approach to the clubhouse turn before
retaking and sprinting off by 4-1/2 lengths in the final quarter of a 1:54.1
mile under Joe Bongiorno. The son of Roll With Joe and Vanite Semalu held clear
of a late bid from runner-up Willie Joe Hill (Patrick Lachance), while
Americanfirewater (Marohn) saved third from a tracking trip
Jason Bartlett led all drivers with four wins on the 13-race
card, while Morrill tallied three.
Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Saturday (July 30)
evening, with a 12-race card due to commence at 6:30 p.m. Eastern.
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