Rockyroad Hanover is “Second Right There”

Cardigan Bay had his Bret Hanover and Overtrick.

Niatross had his Whamo.

Forrest Skipper had his Falcon Seelster.

And Bulldog Hanover has his Rockyroad Hanover (Captainteacherous).

All those horses were superstars in their own right, even the horses that finished “Second Right There”.

In fact, both Bret Hanover and Overtrick would get their revenge against Cardigan Bay, but will Rockyroad Hanover ever be able to beat the fastest mile pacer in the world, Bulldog Hanover?

We will see this Friday evening at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as the rivalry continues between Bulldog Hanover and Rockyroad Hanover, this time in the $315,000 Dan Patch Stakes Free-For-All Pace.

There are ten starters in the 14th race feature, but all the focus will be on Bulldog Hanover, who other than a 1:51 qualifying win at Woodbine Mohawk Park last week, had not raced in a pari-mutuel event since his 1:54.4 world record mile at the Meadowland and that was some 24 days ago.

Rockyroad Hanover shows only firsts and seconds on his program page and two of those second-place finishes have come against Bulldog Hanover as of late and the other against Catch The Fire.

What is amazing about Rockyroad Hanover is look at his statistics as of August 10th.

In his last six race starts he show incredible consistent miles and incredible last quarters that have never been seen before.

6th August – Rockyroad Hanover, his time 1:47 with a last quarter in :25.3 – Started from Post 9 and finished 2nd to Catch A Fire who went 1:46.4.

16th July – Rockyroad Hanover, his time 1:46.1 with a last quarter in :25.2 – Started from Post 9 and finished 2nd to Bulldog Hanover who went the record 1:45.4.

9th July – Rockyroad Hanover, his time 1:46.2 with a last quarter in :25.2 – Started from Post 9 and finished 2nd to Bulldog Hanover who went 1:46.1.

2nd July – Rockyroad Hanover, his time 1:46.2 with a last quarter in :25 – Started from Post 3 winning this time in 1:46.2.

25th June – Rockyroad Hanover, his time 1:47.2 with a last quarter in :24.4 – Started from Post 4 and finished 2nd to Bulldog Hanover who went 1:47

4th June – Rockyroad Hanover, his time 1:50 with a last quarter in :25.3 – Started from Post 6 and finished 3rd to Bulldog Hanover who went 1:49.2.

I believe no horse in history has more sub 1:47 miles on their lines and certainly no horse in history shows more last sub :26 final quarters on their lines except for Rockyroad Hanover.

Add to those statistics that Rockyroad Hanover has drawn outside of Bulldog Hanover six of the seven times they have faced each other this season. Rockyroad Hanover had drawn post 9 in his last three starts and even for the Dan Patch he had drawn outside of Bulldog Hanover.

But there is still the adage you gotta be in it to win it. Perhaps the Dan Patch could be where Rockyroad Hanover turns the tables on Bulldog Hanover, or just as it happened in the Hambletonian last week, you never know who could pop up in the field and surprise everyone.

And don’t forget your history that last year in the Cane Pace at the Meadowlands, Rockyroad Hanover was parked first-over again Perfect Sting and beat him in 1:48.1.

That’s why we race ‘em.

Back in the 1980’s, harness racing trainer-driver Steve Warrington of Delaware, produced a music-video entitled “The Continuing Saga of Second Right There.” It seems very apropos for this article.

For complete entries for Friday at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, click here.

by Steve Wolf, for Harnesslink