$30,000 Williams Memorial won in an upset

LEBANON, OH – EL’s Rocker lowered his lifetime harness racing mark by almost four seconds while winning the

$30,000 final of the George Williams Memorial Series at Miami Valley on Sunday (March 13).

Owner-trainer-driver Mike Peterson’s 4-year-old son of Rockin Image raced huge through the first three-quarters of the championship mile only to find himself in an exciting stretch duel with heavily favored Cody Hanover (Dan Noble).

With the two contenders pacing away from the field while stride for stride with each other, Cody Hanover made an uncharacteristic break in stride allowing EL’s Rocker to coast to the wire alone by eight lengths in 1:51. Sent off at odds of 9-1, El’s Rocker paid $20.40 to win.

The winner was fourth along the pylons to the halfway point, moved up to second by the three-quarter mile marker and advanced onto even terms with Cody Hanover early in the stretch drive. Cody regained his composure in time to finish second with Freddie Faves (Jeremy Smith) avoiding another breaker and streaking home third.

The Williams featured male pacers who were non-winners of four races or $40,000 at the time of nomination. EL’s Rocker now has seven wins, most of them at Indiana county fairs, and his earnings have grown to $45,150 with the championship check.

A race later a southwest Ohio fan favorite, Burrow, captured a $17,500 top conditioned trot for driver Kayne Kauffman and trainer Ross Leonard.

The 4-year-old Ohio-sired son of Uncle Peter caught Outburst (Tyler Smith) in the final 50 yards with Dontforgetlittlman (Noble) best of the rest. Rachel Leonard co-owns Burrow—presumably named after Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow—with the Redracer and Redline Racing Stables of Ohio.

Miami Valley will race Monday (March 14) through Thursday (March 17) of the coming week with a 4:05 p.m. post time each day.