Rock N Roll Heaven rolls at Chester

If a 26-second last quarter in a Meadowlands qualifier wasn't astonishing enough, a 1:50.3 mile from Rock N Roll Heaven ($2.80) in his Governor's Cup elimination Sunday (Sept. 13) afternoon at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack should be.

Faced with pressure from race's outset, the 2-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Artistic Vision was used early to clear All Speed Hanover (Ron Pierce) through a 26.4 first quarter, and pushed on by Windfall Blue Chip (Brian Sears) through a 54.1 half mile, by far the most punishing pace of any of the four eliminations. Up the backstretch, with Windfall Blue Chip beginning to fade, Rock N Roll Heaven caught a breather that hardly lasted 150 yards, as Ron Pierce angled All Speed Hanover out of the pocket before the far turn, pressing Rock N Roll Heaven to three-quarters in 1:22.1.

On the far turn, Rock N Roll Heaven responded to the pressure, holding All Speed Hanover off and later repelling a late bid from the ground-saving Versado (Yannick Gingras), winning by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:50.3, good for a world record for 2-year-old pacing colts on a five-eighths mile track.

Daniel Dube drives Rock N Roll Heaven for owner Frank Bellino and trainer Bruce Saunders.

One More Laugh ($2.60) turned in a track record performance in his elimination, winning in 1:51.3 under Tim Tetrick.  The 2-year-old Mcardle-Fancy Creek Funny gelding circled the field on the far turn, up to win by three parts of a length over pacesetter Rockin Image. Prohibitive favorites Dr Dreamy (1:52.4, Brian Sears) and Malicious (1:51.3, David Miller) also took their eliminations.

In addition to the quartet of Governor's Cup eliminations, three splits for the Three Diamonds were contested for 2-year-old pacing fillies, again swept by odds-on favorites. Fancy Filly ($2.80) was an impressive winner in her elimination, closing up the open stretch for a handy 1:52.1 win under Brian Sears. Higher and Higher ($3.00) was just as impressive, drawing away by 5-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1 with Hall-of-Famer Dave Palone in tow. Casino Nights ($2.80) and Brian Sears took the other Three Diamonds split in 1:54.

The finals for the Governor's Cup and Three Diamonds will be contested on Sunday, Sept. 20. (Chester)

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