The NSW Riverina bred seven-year-old gelding Rocknroll Runa (Rock N Roll Heaven) became the co-fastest Australian bred pacer ever when he rallied strongly along the pegs to win the $220,000 Sam McKee Memorial in 1:47.6 at The Meadowlands on Saturday (August 3). He prevailed by a neck over North America’s top harness racing free-for-allers.
ROCKNROLL RUNA REPLAY
It was his 32nd win in 87 lifetime starts.
Ever Hoping, a six-year-old by Always B Miki, bred by the Grubb family in NSW, set a track record for older pacing geldings and equalled the all-age track record of 1:53.8 in the $25,000 Pine Tree Invitational at Cumberland Raceway on Saturday.
Coming from worse than midfield, Ever Hoping unleashed a brilliant finishing flourish three deep in the back straight to score by a half length.
Swedish Starlet, a New Zealand bred daughter of Mach Three, chalked up her ninth success for the year when she led from end-to-end in 1:52.6 in the $25,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (July 30). She has earned $US130,030 this season.
The Bettor’s Delight mare In The Spotlight NZ led and made a one-act affair of the $10,000 featured fillies and mares’ race at Tioga Downs. She clocked 1:53 in notching her third win for the season and 18th lifetime.
Ex-Victorian mare The Pantheist (by Bettor’s Delight) led in an ANZAC quinella at Saratoga Raceway in the $15,000 Fillies and Mares’ Open on Friday night (August 2) with A Little Side Hustle and Dark Eclipse filling the minor placings.
She scored by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.6.
Monday, July 29
Northfield Park, Ohio
Billy Lincoln NZ (Bettor’s Delght) 1:55.6 – $4,600
Plainridge Park, Massachusetts
Tulhurst Santanna (Santanna Blue Chip) 1:51.2 – $16,000
Alta Classic NZ (Alta Christiano) 1:52.6 – $13,500
Give Us A Wave (Mach Three) 1:53.6 – $13,500
Yonkers Raceway, New York
Becher’s Brook (Somebeachsomewhere) 1:52.2 – $20,000
What’s Stanley Got (Heston Blue Chip) 1:52.6 – $30,000
Tuesday, July 30
Batavia Downs, New York
Tullow NZ (Mach Three) 1:57.2 – $5,000
Arco NZ (Shadow Play) 1:57.4 – $7,000
Monticello Raceway, New York
Fess Up NZ (Bettor’s Delight) 1:55.4 – $8,800
Provocative Prince NZ (Grinfromeartoear) 1:55.6 – $6,600
Hereslookingatyou NZ (He’s Watching) 1:59 – $4,400
Plainridge Park, Massachusetts
Swedish Starlet NZ (Mach Three) 1:52.6 – $25,000
Illustrious Arden NZ (Vincent) 1:55.2 – $8,500
Pocono Downs, Pennsylvania
Twist Little Girl NZ (Vincent) 1:52 – $7,000
Scioto Downs, Ohio
Make A Statement (Bettor’s Delight) 1:54.2 – $5,500
The Bus (Art Major) 1:54.6 – $5,500
Yonkers Raceway, New York
Carabao (American Ideal) 1:52.2 – $24,000
No Win No Feed (A Rocknroll Dance) 1:54.6 – $22,000
Sheikh Yabooty NZ (Big Jim) 1:55 – $15,000
Wednesday, July 31
Batavia Downs, New York
Runrunjimmydunn NZ (American Ideal) 1:54.4 – $8,500
Scioto Downs, Ohio
Don’t Bother Me None NZ (Bettor’s Delight) 1:50.8 – $8,000
Thursday, August 1
Monticello Raceway, New York
Mighty Mr Sharkey NZ (Four Starzzz Shark) 1:57.8 – $4,400
Plainridge Park, Massachusetts
Enhance Your Calm NZ (Majestic Son) Tr 1:56.4 – $12,500
The Meadows, Pennsylvania
Miss Auckland NZ (Auckland Reactor) 1:52.8 – $5,800
Yonkers Raceway, New York
Benhope Rulz NZ (Courage Under Fire) 1:53.4 – $15,000
Friday, August 2
Cumberland Raceway, Maine
Shecandance NZ (A Rocknroll Dance) 1:59 – $4,000
Quick Fun NZ (Real Desire) 2:00 – $5,000
Harrah’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Double Or Nothing NZ (Sweet Lou) 1:51 – $11,000
Nota Replica (Courage Under Fire) 1:52 – $9,000
Hoosier Park, Indiana
Big Wheels (A Rocknroll Dance) 1:50.6 – $14,000
Montana Chief (Art Major) 1:51 – $10,000
Rockin Marty (Pet Rock) 1:52 – $10,000
Major Crocker (Art Major) 1:52.2 – $12,500
Saratoga Raceway, New York
The Pantheist (Bettor’s Delight) 1:53.6 – $15,000
Bronze Over NZ (Changeover) 1:55.8 – $6,000
The Meadows, Pennsylvania
The Bizzness NZ (Sweet Lou) 1:53.6 – $11,000
Tioga Downs, New York
In The Spotlight NZ (Bettor’s Delight) 1:53 – $10,000
Yonkers Raceway, New York
Silk Cloud (Shadow Play) 1:52 – $39,000
My Ultimate Star (Bettor’s Delight) 1:52.6 – $15,000
Elektra (Four Starzzz Shark) 1:53 – $21,000
Saturday, August 3
Cumberland Raceway, Maine
Ever Hoping (Always B Miki) 1:53.8 – $25,000
Ultimate Flyer NZ (Bettor’s Delight) 1:56.8 – $8,000
Meadowlands, New Jersey
Rocknroll Runa (Rock N Roll Heaven) 1:47.6 – $220,000
Northfield Park, Ohio
Be My Rose NZ (American Ideal) 1:52 – $20,500
Pocono Downs, Pennsylvania
Belmont Royale NZ (Betterthancheddar) 1:51.8 – $14,500
Saratoga Raceway, New York
Colossal Stride (Bettor’s Delight) 1:54.8 – $10,500
Scioto Downs, Ohio
Artatac (Art Major) 1:49.4 – $27,000
Keep On Rocking (Rocknroll Hanover) 1:52.8 – $9,000
Tioga Downs, New York
Machiatto (Mach Three) 1:54.8 – $7,500
Yonkers Raceway, New York
Mighty Santana NZ (Santanna Blue Chip) 1:53.6 – $15,000
Sunday, August 4
Harrah’s Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Jack’s Shadow NZ (Shadow Play) 1:51.8 – $11,000
Juddy Douglas (Auckland Reactor) 1:52.4 – $7,500
Northfield Park, Ohio
Cyclone Banner NZ (Bettor’s Delight) 1:52.2 – $17,500
Kashed Up (For A Reason) 1:52.6 – $10,500
Louie The Horse NZ (Sweet Lou) 1:53.8 – $10,500
Sezana NZ (Shadow Play) 1:54 – $5,200
Running Aces Raceway, Maine
Love Your Work (Western Terror) 1:55.2 – $5,000
Tioga Downs, New York
Raven Banner NZ (Bettor’s Delight) 1:52.8 – $7,000
To view previous Down Under Winners articles, click here.
by Peter Wharton, for Harnesslink