Rock The Boat rocks the board in Bluegrass

LEXINGTON, KY– Rock The Boat sprung out of the pocket to pull off an 18-1 upset in one of the five divisions of the $330,000 Bluegrass Stakes for the harness racing two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday, October 1 at The Red Mile.

Sent the 3-5 favorite, Miso Fast pulled in front the Rock The Boat to take the lead off a :29 opening quarter. After a :57.3 half, Oh K Man edged first over, carrying Tuxedo Bay on his back, in pursuit of Miso Fast entering the far turn. He moved up into third off a 1:25.4 third quarter before faltering.

Miso Fast held control until midway through the stretch, when Rock The Boat fanned off the pylons and charged down the center of the track. Mcthriller had room at the inside, and attempted to fly to the top, but Rock The Boat held him off to win in 1:53.3.

Owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Mr Dana Parham, trained by Ross Croghan, and driven by Andy Miller, Rock The Baot, by Rock N Roll Heaven out of the Badlands Hanover mare Tug River Princess, won his second race in five starts this season, earning $70,551. He paid $38.20 to win.

Huntsville won his third race in a row as he won his division of the Bluegrass in 1:53 over Boogie Shuffle and Ocean Colony.

Boogie Shuffle flew to the lead, setting a :28.4 first quarter while Bettor's Western paced into second, Huntsville into third, and Ocean Colony into fourth. Midway through the backstretch Huntsville tipped first over and cleared the lead before a :58 half.

Ocean Colony was flushed first over into the far turn by Point Somewherelse and progressed up to Huntsville's wheel by three-quarters in 1:26.2. He drifted into the stretch as Huntsville extended his lead while Boogie Shuffle chased from the pocket, angling off the cones but failing to advance on Huntsville.

Earning $260,484 for owner-trainer Ray Schnittker along with partners Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and Steven Arnold, Huntsville, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Hanover mare Wild West Show, won his fourth race in seven starts this season. He was driven by Tim Tetrick and paid $3.80.

Sweeping towards the top, R J P obtained the lead at the top of the stretch and advanced to a lifetime-best of 1:51.2, winning his division of the Bluegrass at 2-1.

Windsong Napoleon circled by Odds On Delray to take the lead through a :27.4 opening quarter, soon resigning to Papiamento as he brushed to the lead before the half. Timed in :55.2, Papiamento led into the far turn as R J P began his first-over rush towards the top.

Matching strides with Papiamento through a 1:24 third quarter, R J P took the lead and drew clear as Odds On Delray angled off the pylons and towards the center of the track to take second, while John Dally, having followed R J P's cover, closed to finish third.

Owned by Dave and John Prushnok, David J. Miller and Lawrence Means, trained by Erv Miller, and driven by Marcus Miller, R J P, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Dragon's Lair mare Vysoke Tatry, won his second of nine races this year, earning $91,280. He paid $6.80.

Blood Line won his division of the Bluegrass going wire to wire as the 6-5 favorite in 1:52.1.

Blood Line led Manattack, Normandy Beach, and Western Hill through fractions of :28.3 and :56.3 before he began to extend his lead. By three-quarters in 1:25.2, he was three-lengths clear of Manattack pacing in second and Normandy Beach to his outside in third. Through the stretch, Blood Line gradually drew away as Normandy Beach took second and Western Hill grabbed third.

Winning his second race in eight starts this year, Blood Line, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Western Ideal mare Blood Diamond, has earned $102,687 for owner Diamond Creek Racing. Trained by Jimmy Takter and driven by David Miller, he paid $4.40.

Downbytheseaside took the lead midway around the first turn and remained in front to pace a 1:52 mile in his division of the Bluegrass over Eddard Hanover and Mac's Jackpot.

Leading through fractions of :27.1 and :55.1, Downbytheseaside was unchallenged on the lead. Lindythefourteenth was flushed first over from sixth, having advanced towards second at three-quarters in 1:24.1. He faltered and Downbytheseaside drew off at the top of the stretch. Mac's Jackpot fanned off the pylons and towards the center of the track while Eddard Hanover sprinted up the pylons to claim second.

Sent off the 1-5 favorite, Downbytheseaside, by Somebeachsomewhere out of the Allamerican Native mare Sprig Hanover, won his fifth race in nine starts this year, amassing $206,956 in earnings for owners Country Club Acres Inc., Joe Sbrocco and Richard Lombardo. Trained by Brian Brown and driven by David Miller, he paid $2.60.

By Ray Cotolo, for The Red Mile