Rock N Roll Heaven must qualify

After making an unexpected break in his $97,000 Burlington division on Saturday, June 12, and being charted as not finishing the race, Rock N Roll Heaven was placed on the judge’s list. That means trainer Bruce Saunder must race him in a qualifier at Mohawk Raceway on Tuesday, June 15 in order to drop him in the box for this Saturday’s (June 19) North America Cup eliminations.

“That’s a bad line,” said trainer Bruce Saunders. “He actually did finish the race, but after he made the break, he was, at one point turned around facing the opposite direction. The rules say that if that happens you go on the list. I argued, but what can you do?”

The talented pacer had never made a break before and Saunders said that a very unusual set of circumstances were to blame.

“He's raced there before and never had a problem, but it was an eerie night for racing. The fog dimmed the lights that illuminated the track from above, but the heavier fog near the ground made those lights brighter. He was very enthusiastic going to the front and as Danny (driver Dube) got him settled down, the timer at the half flashed. It doesn’t run continuously like the one at the quarter. When it flashed up, he threw his head and took a couple of quick starts to the right and almost bolted. Danny stopped him from going too far to the right or else he could easily have gone through the hub rail and down that ravine on the other side.”

Saunders said that he had a few more anxious minutes waiting for his colt to emerge from the fog.
“Danny got him pulled up and he did finish the mile, although it took about another minute and a half but when he got to me I could see his demeanor was fine.  The good thing is that he’s not hurte and no one else got hurt, either. The bad thing is the box for the North America Cup closes at 10:30 tomorrow and the qualifiers are at 10, so we hope to get him in early and go from there.”