Saratoga Springs, NY--Classic Rock Nroll got up in time to prevail in the $122,500 Joe Gerrity Jr Memorial Pacing Series final at Saratoga on Saturday night (Aug. 18).
Dan Noble piloted the standout 5-year-old for trainer Tony O’Sullivan and owner Frank Bellino, getting a pocket trip in the championship race. There were only about four lengths separating the top six horses turning for home but Classic Rock Nroll (Rocknroll Hanover) emerged victorious, ranging up in the passing lane to get there in 1:51.4.
Dancin Yankee (Dan Cappello Jr) was a strong closing second while longshot Future Character (Rick Dane Jr) ran third.
The “big league” New York Sire Stakes races both went the way of driver Yannick Gingras who scored a track record setting win for 3-year-old pacing colts with Major Bombay (Art Major) and went wire-to-wire with Breakin The Law (Artiscape). Major Bombay stopped the timer in a sizzling 1:51.3 to grab the winner’s share of the $117,978 purse while Breakin The Law held off a late charge to prevail in 1:52.2.
Jim Morrill Jr, who piloted five winners on the Saturday card, had the runners-up in both of the big stakes races as well, finishing second with Steelhead Hanover (Bettor’s Delight) and Bet On The Law (Bettor’s Delight).
Live racing resumes on Tuesday night at Saratoga with a first post time of 7:20 p.m.