Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Rocknroll Hanover Wins Meadowlands Pace

July 16, 2005

Rocknroll Hanover strides out to win the $1 million Meadowland's
Pace Final Saturday night at the Big M for Brian Sears in 1:48.3

Rocknroll Hanover captured the $1 million Meadowlands Pace in a stakes record of
1:48.3 on Saturday night at the Meadowlands with Brian Sears at the lines. Village Jolt, the divisional champion at two, finished second, with Stonebridge Regal third. It was Rocknroll Hanover's sixth win in seven starts this year. His only loss was a second last week in his Pace elim.

"We had a lot of confidence in him going in," said driver Brian Sears, posting his first Pace victory in his third appearance. "This is the best he's ever raced. He was super sharp tonight. You never know how the trip is going to work out. I expected someone would be leaving from the outside. The horse just swelled up and felt better and better as he went on."

Rocknroll Hanover improved his career record to nine wins, two seconds and three thirds from 15 starts. His bankroll grew to $1,951,756. The 1:48.3 mile - with fractions of 26.2, 54.3 and 1:21.3 - was a lifetime best for the colt and a stakes record, supplanting the 1:49 marked shared by Mach Three [2002] and Holborn Hanover [2004]. The Western Ideal - Rich N Elegant colt picked up a record third victory in million-dollar stakes action, having already captured the Metro at two and the North America Cup.

"I just saw Rocknroll being more relaxed tonight," said trainer Brett Pelling, who has now won a record four editions of the Pace. "He was over-pacing last week. Rocknroll was pretty psyched; he knows what he's here to do. Tonight when he goes home, he'll go down and go to sleep. He's not a wired horse. Tonight was just awesome."

Pelling, who celebrates his 47th birthday on Sunday, July 17, previously won the Pace in 1995 with David's Pass, 1997 with Dream Away and 1999 with The Panderosa.

"This is our home track," said the New Zealand native and seven-time leading trainer at the Meadowlands. "If you stick around long enough and if you're in the race, you're going to win some. Hopefully, you have some owners who keep buying good horses. It was my first Pace win since 1999. My kids are at a good age - 12 [Grace] and 10 [Jack]. They've been in the winner's circle before but they had no clue what was going on. Now my son tonight will have the percentages worked out."

It was a repeat visit to the Pace winner's circle for Jeffrey Snyder of New York City, who owns Rocknroll Hanover in partnership with Audrey Campbell. Campbell races as the Lothlorien Equestrian Center of Mississauga, Ontario. Snyder, who had six previous Pace starters, won the 1994 edition with Cam's Card Shark. Campbell was making her Pace debut. Snyder also had two other finalists this year - Village Jolt [with Jules and Arlene Siegel], who was second, and Cam's Fool [with Audrey Campbell] who was ninth. Village Jolt, who had been hindered by sickness earlier in the year, benefited from following Rocknroll Hanover.

"I pushed off the gate hard with him," said Ron Pierce, who drove Village Jolt. "I figured that Cat [Manzi with Team Hutch] would be leaving. I had the lead at the quarter, looked over my shoulder and saw Brian [Sears] coming. I let him cross over pretty easily. It was just a matter of keeping up with Brian. When I saw Jack [Moiseyev] coming, I knew he was in trouble with Stonebridge Regal."

Broken equipment cost Stonebridge Regal, who had won 10 of 14 starts coming into the Pace, any chance.

"I was first up," Moiseyev said. "He broke a front hobble hanger at the half. His left hobble was down around his knees, and I knew I was in trouble. He raced good considering he was first up and had a broken hobble."

A crowd of 19,834 turned out for the Meadowlands Pace card and total wagering into the Pace pool was $913,379.

$1 Million Meadowland's Pace at The MeadowlandsSaturday, July 16, 2005
Post Horse Driver
5 Rocknroll Hanover B Sears
1 Village Jolt Ron Pierce
3 Stonebridge Regal Moiseyev
10 American Ideal Brennan
8 Team Hutch David Miller
4 George At Bigs J Morrill
7 Load The Dice MLachance
9 Allamerican Inca DMiller
6 Cam’s Fool J Campbell
2 Leading X Ample Ledford
:26.2 :54.3 1:21.3 1:48.3