Vernon, N.Y. -- Planet Rock ($7.90) remained undefeated
through four career starts via a sparkling 1:52 mile in her $55,500 New York
Sire Stakes event for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday (August 6) night at
Vernon Downs.
Planet Rock enjoyed a cozy midpack stalking spot early on,
perching just off the top trio as 48-1 outsider Takeyourbreathaway (Billy
Davis, Jr.) worked to command before rating a :56.1 half-mile. With
seven-sixteenths of the mile to go, Planet Rock slid second-over to draft
behind a strong middle move from even-money favorite World Apart (Tim Tetrick),
only to be left uncovered on entry to the far turn. Jim Marohn, Jr. continued
to progress with the daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven and Villa Hanover,
achieving the lead midway on the far turn.
Planet Rock would face stern resistance from World Apart off
the corner, but she started to edge away at the eighth pole just as World Apart
stumbled. Planet Rock ultimately drew off to win by 2-3/4 lengths, missing See
You At Peelers's track record for freshman pacing fillies by two-fifths of a
second. That's the Ticket (Marcus Miller) worked into second off live cover,
while Artrageous (Jim Morrill, Jr.) emerged from traffic to save third.
Planet Rock gave owner Kenneth Jacobs and trainer Linda
Toscano a sweep of the jointly-favored New York Sire Stakes events, as their
Robin J ($5.10) vaulted off second-over cover to capture the earlier co-feature
in 1:54.3. Tim Tetrick was aboard the daughter of Roll With Joe and Mommy Robin
Q for the half-length triumph over American Cheer (John MacDonald) and That's
How We Roll (Ray Schnittker).
Live racing returns to Vernon Downs on Wednesday (August
10), with a special nine-race twilight card due to commence at 5:10 p.m.
