Nichols, N.Y. – Just over a month
removed from her 5-1/2 length win in the Geers Stakes, Kenneth Jacobs’s Planet
Rock ($13.80) proved victorious again at Tioga Downs, sustaining first-over
progress and parrying two late-charging 2-year-old pacing fillies in a $110,200
New York Sire Stakes event on Friday (September 16) evening.
The daughter of Rock N Roll Heaven and
Villa Hanover was forced to abort a leave attempt as Artrageous (Jim Morrill,
Jr.) led a :26.2 stampede through the first quarter. John Campbell would put
Planet Rock in play with a circuit to go, advancing first-over to the clubhouse
turn while 3-10 favorite Tequila Monday (David Miller) slipstreamed live cover
through middle splits of :57 and 1:24.3. Planet Rock would succeed in dueling
down Artrageous off the far turn, but she wasn’t home free upon cornering.
Tequila Monday—who drifted to the four-path after fanning off cover—quickly
righted the ship and charged boldly, as did Robin J (Mike Simons) after finding
room to vacate the pocket. Still, Planet Rock ultimately prevailed, driven out
to hold sway by a neck in 1:52.3. Tequila Monday and Robin J finished second
and third respectively, while Roaring To Go (Brett Miller) stayed on for fourth.
Linda Toscano trains Planet Rock, who
earned her seventh career win in just eight starts.
In the sub-featured $13,500 Open 1 Trot,
Dragin the Wagon ($8.10) made every yard a winning one en route to a 1:53.3
triumph. The 6-year-old Angus Hall gelding sprinted to the fore to evade a host
of leavers to the first turn, and held clear of a belated rally from Prairie
Fortune (Jim Meittinis), who emerged off third-over cover to take second. Aaron
Byron drove the 31-time winner for owner James Cantelon and trainer Jeff Byron.
An 11-race Closing Night card awaits on
Saturday (September 17); first post is slated for 6:30 p.m., with full coverage
on the Tioga Downs Racing Network to commence at 6:05 p.m.
