Rocknroll Runa A wins first Open Pace of 2024 at Saratoga

Rocknroll Runa A (Rock N Roll Heaven) won the final two harness racing installments of the Open Pace contested in 2023 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Larry Stalbaum owns and trains the Aussie-bred invader who enjoyed a monster ’23 campaign that saw him earn more than $230,000 by way of thirteen wins. The first Open Pace of 2024 was contested on Saturday evening (Feb. 3) on an opening day card that consisted of ten races.

Rocknroll Runa A was moved to the lead in the early going by Stalbaum who sat behind his stable’s star in Saturday’s $15,000 feature. The seven-year-old cruised unopposed through a first half in 57.1 but was challenged past three-quarters by Pickup Man Hanover (Shawn Gray) who popped the pocket to take on the favored leader around the final turn. Rocknroll Runa A proved up to the task as he stopped the timer in 1:53.3 to win the season’s first Open.

Pickup Man Hanover settled for second best while Seventh Secret (Jimmy Devaux) earned the show spot.

ROCKNROLL RUNA A REPLAY

Rocknroll Runa A paid $3.50 to win and led an exacta and triple that returned $17 and $86.50, respectively.

Stalbaum completed a Saturday night double when his Crockets Cullen N (Christian Cullen) prevailed in a $10,500 race for condition pacers. A former Pacer of the Year at the Spa, Crockets Cullen N made the first start of his thirteen-year-old season a winning one as he proved an impressive nearly three-length winner in a mile clocked in 1:55.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee that begins at noon.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga Raceway