Allamerican Idol, Rocknroll Band score in Big M finals

Allamerican Idol  pulled off a series sweep as he held off the late charge of Lookout Hanover to win the co-featured $72,500 Complex Series final for conditioned pacers Saturday night at the Meadowlands. 

Starting from post seven, driver Brian Sears urged Allamerican Idol to the lead in a swift :26.3 opening quarter. Prize Art and Ron Pierce fired to the front next, but Sears retook command off a :55.1 half. Lookout Hanover drew closer with every stride in the stretch, but Allamerican Idol dug in gamely to hold him off by a head. Wildridge Sam closed off a third-over trip to grab the show spot.

Allamerican Idol is perfect in three starts this season and 15 for 55 lifetime. Tom Fanning trains the 5-year-old Pro Bono Best-Art With Heart gelding for Joseph Smith of Vero each, Fla. 

“No doubt, (Brian) Sears gets along with him well and gets a lot out of him,” Fanning said. “He’s been on the front now four or five times in a row, so he’s getting a little hot. Maybe we’ll give him some earplugs to get him to relax. I was pretty confident; I thought we could get the job done. He’s got one more series, the Four Leaf Clover (begins March 7). We may pick a spot or two against some better horses, we’ll see how he is.”

Engel Stable’s Rocknroll Band prevailed by a half-length over a game Oliver Cleo in the $94,600 Clyde Hirt final, the first of the night’s three stakes finals.  

Driven by David Miller, Rocknroll Band took command from Not Quite Forty around the first turn but quickly released Oliver Cleo down the blustery backstretch. Miller and Rocknroll Band waited for an opening, then soared home to a 1:52.4 victory. Red Star Catch rallied for third.

“As soon as my horse got room, he took right off,” Miller said. “He’s been racing great and I expected him to do that. He’s got a big heart and he loves to win. He can go fast a long way and he loves to win.”

Trained by Ken Rucker, Rocknroll Band has now won 11 of 35 career starts and $164,839. (Meadowlands)

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