After winning the Hambletonian with Muscle Massive, trainer Jimmy Takter capped his banner day by sending Rockin Image to a 1:48.2 victory in the $115,500 first division of the Oliver Wendell Holmes for sophomore colt and gelding pacers. Guided by Yannick Gingras, the Rocknroll Hanover colt hooked up with Rock N Roll Heaven in the stretch before putting a nose in front of the favorite at the wire.
Piece Of The Rock and Fred And Ginger each took turns on the lead through a :26.3 panel while Rockin Image got away fifth. Fourth for Dube on the backside, Rock N Roll Heaven took command nearing the half (:53.3) and led the field to three quarters (1:21.2). Third and rolling in the turn, 6-1 Rockin Image rallied in the stretch, taking the lead before the favorite fought back along the inside. But the L & L Devisser LLC-bred colt dug in and scored his fourth seasonal win. BG’s Folly and Brian Sears were third.
Owned by Lothlorien, of Cheltenham, Ontario, Canada, Rockin Image equaled his lifetime best, taken earlier this season. The victory increased his career earnings to $501,793. The colt returned $15.40, $4.60 and $2.80 in the victory.
The victory was Takter’s third on the card. Along with his Hambo win, he sent out Thatsnotmyname to victory in the Merrie Annabelle. A potential fourth victory earlier on the card, with two-year-old trotting colt Pastor Stephen, was negated by judges.
Adios champion Delmarvalous and Sears worked out a perfect two-hole trip and turned away favorite One More Laugh to win the second Oliver Wendell Holmes division in 1:48.2. Valentino, driven by George Brennan, raced third.
Sears sent the George Teague-trained Delmarvalous to the front from post three, taking a seat behind One More Laugh, who fired from post eight for Tim Tetrick. The favorite set the pace through fractions of :26.4, :53.3 and 1:21.1 as Tobago Cays and Andy Miller advanced first over from fifth to third turning for home.
In the stretch, Sears pulled Delmarvalous, and the Badlands Hanover-Prymetyme Scootie colt responded, hitting the wire first. Bred by Winbak Farm, the sophomore dropped his lifetime best by a full second. He is owned by Badlands Racing, Teague, Elmer Fannin and Howard Dorfman. Now a winner of $603,450, Delmarvalous paid $12.60, $4.00 and $2.60.