Photo of Rockin In Heaven with driver Jim Morrill Jr.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
It was much like a walk in the park for visiting Mohawk Raceway regular Rockin In Heaven as he went gate to wire without issue in the $10,000 Open Handicap pace at Batavia Downs on Saturday night (Aug. 26).
Driver Jim Morrill Jr. left decisively with Rockin In Heaven and gained a lead he would not relinquish. While touring the facility with the best view, he took his competitors to the half in :56.1 before getting it in gear in the second half.
With For A Bettor Time (Kevin Cummings) sitting behind him Rockin In Heaven was challenged by Believe This Bob (Drew Monti) moving to the three-quarters. But Morrill let him out a notch and posted a :27.4 third quarter to keep everyone in check. From there he swelled up and motored down the lane to a handy victory in 1:52.1, which was the fastest pacing mile of the 2017 meet.
It was the fourth win in 15 starts for Rockin In Heaven ($4.80) and it pushed his earnings for the year to $57,819. The 5-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven is owned by Dr. Ian Moore, Douglas Polley, Francois Lecomte and Gordon McComb. Dr. Moore trains Rockin In Heaven.
In the co-featured $9,000 Open II pace, Show Stopping (Kevin Cummings) pulled first-over at the five-eighths and paced stride for stride with the front-running Lucky McTrucky (Jim Morrill Jr.), eventually out-duelling him at the wire to win by a nose in 1:53.4, equalling his seasonal mark.
Show Stopping ($26.60) is owned by Resiliant Racing Stable and trained by Rose Russo.
The Downs leading driver Drew Monti had a grand slam on Saturday night while Jim Morrill Jr., Kevin Cummings and Ron Beback Jr. each had two wins apiece.
Batavia Downs had a very special guest visit the track on Saturday. 2012 Olympic women's pole vault gold medalist Jenn Suhr was in the clubhouse enjoying the races. Suhr, who is also a 15-time U.S. National champion and holder of several women's pole vaulting records, most recently won a gold medal in the 2016 World championships in Portland, Ore.
