Rock N Roll Heaven and Daniel Dube won the 65th edition of the Little Brown Jug in straight heats with a world record performance before 48,118 at the Delaware County Fair on September 23, 2010. A textbook drive by Dube and the big heart of Rock N Roll Heaven were necessary to win the $604,100 pacing classic.

In the $289,969 second heat, the elimination winners I’m Gorgeous (Andy Miller), Rock N Roll Heaven and Classic Rock Nroll (John Campbell) left to gain control. I’m Gorgeous led at the 1/8 pole, but Dube aggressively sent the eventual winner to the lead at the quarter in :27 1/5. Rock N Roll Heaven kept the field of eight at bay with the half in :55 3/5 and the three quarters in 1:23. As the field straighten out for the wire, Rock N Roll Heaven used a last quarter of :26 2/5 to score a 2 ¼ length victory over I’m Gorgeous to establish a new two-heat world record of 3:38 4/5, eclipsing the 3:40 1/5 mark set by Shadow Play in 2008.

"He is an amazing colt," noted Dube. "I was really happy with the way he paced in the first half, but even more surprised the way he finished."

"You sure need a special horse to win the Jug and we have one," added Bruce Saunders the winning trainer.

The son of Rocknroll Hanover is owned by Frank J. Bellino of Bronxville, NY. The win gave Saunders and Dube with their first career Jug victory. Rock N Roll Heaven was bred by Steve Stewart, Charles Nash, Julie Nash and Francene Nash.

He's the best I've ever had," Saunders said. "I knew he was the best last year when he raced as a 2-year-old. He's had a couple of missteps as a 3-year-old but, really, he hasn't done anything wrong. He certainly showed up today with his lunch bucket."
            
              Rock N Roll Heaven Wins his Breeders Crown elim on Oct 2, 2010
            
Frank Bellino bought Rock N Roll Heaven, originally a $57,000 yearling purchase by Roy O’Hagan, in June after the horse won qualifiers in 1:59.3 and 1:57.3 at Scioto Downs in Ohio. The colt is by Rocknroll Hanover, out of the mare Artistic Vision. His mother won the 2003 Overbid Series and is a full sister to 2003 Adios winner Armbro Animate.

“My owner had enough courage to take a swing at a big number off little or no information,” Saunders said, declining to discuss the price tag, but adding, “It was more than you’re supposed to pay off two qualifiers at Scioto in 1:59 and 1:57. You knew he was out of a great mare and, I think, the new-age stallion, Rocknroll Hanover.”

Rock N Roll Heaven is a half brother to Clear Vision, which at the time of the sale might not have seemed as significant as it has become in recent weeks. Clear Vision, who was purchased for $180,000 as a yearling, won three of his first 26 races, but since August 23 has won a leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes in a career best 1:49.3 (also a track record at Harrah’s Chester) and finished second in both the Cane Pace and Pennsylvania Sire Stakes championship.

“In retrospect, we got a bargain and everyone would have liked to have been in our shoes,” Saunders said. “My owner was aggressive enough to take that kind of risk and he’s been rewarded.”

In the Metro Pace, Rock N Roll Heaven finished second to Sportswriter’s world-record 1:49.2 mile. Rock N Roll Heaven was two-fifths of a second behind the winner.

“He’s never gone a bad effort,” Saunders said. “When he was beaten he was either out of position or beaten by a better horse. He’s always put in a high quality effort and had as much or more pace than anyone finishing.”

Rocknroll Heaven's Career Statistics Through October 4, 2010
Year   Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds  Earnings        Record
2010       15      10       2      1        $1,223,777      3, 1:47.3M M 07/10/2010
2009        9        4       4       1        $592,626        2, 1:50.2M Lex 10/03/2009
Total     24     14       6       2        $1,816,403    3, 1:47.3M