Rock N Roll Heaven Horse of Year
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Rock N Roll Heaven completed his career with a 10-race win streak that included a world-record performance in the Little Brown Jug. The colt was driven primarily by Daniel Dube, trained by Bruce Saunders and owned by Frank Bellino. He won 16 of 21 races and earned $2.15 million.
In addition to the Little Brown Jug, which he won in consecutive heats with back-to-back world-record-equaling 1:49.2 miles, Rock N Roll Heaven’s victories included the Breeders Crown, Tattersalls Pace, Battle of the Brandywine, and Messenger Stakes.
Lucky Chucky, who earned his second consecutive division crown, won Trotter of the Year, 60-54, over Buck I St Pat in the closest vote for the award since 1976 when Steve Lobell defeated Keystone Pioneer, 98-94. Muscle Massive, the 3-year-old colt who won the Hambletonian, got seven votes.
In 2009, Lucky Chucky won the 2-year-old male trotter title. He follows Muscle Hill, Deweycheatumnhowe and Donato Hanover as the fourth consecutive trotter to win division honors at ages 2 and 3, plus Trotter of the Year as a 3-year-old.
Buck I St Pat has won three consecutive awards for best older female trotter, joining Moni Maker (1997-2000), Peace Corps (1990-92), Scenic Regal (1987-89) and Fresh Yankee (1969-72) as mares to earn the honor at least three years in a row. Buck I St Pat was named on all 131 ballots returned for the older female trotter of the year award, making her the only unanimous selection this year.
See You At Peelers finished the year with 13 wins in 13 races and became only the second 2-year-old filly pacer to win her Dan Patch Award with an undefeated season. My Little Dragon, who was 6-for-6 in 2005, was the first.
Put On A Show won 12 of 16 starts and $1.16 million this year, pushing her career earnings to $1.89 million and setting the record for highest earnings for a filly pacer. Miss Easy held the record, with $1.77 million earned in 1990-91.
Rock N Roll Heaven
Rocknroll Heaven-Artistic Vision-Artsplace
Breeders: Steve Stewart, Charles “Cotton” Nash, Julie Nash, Francene Nash.
Owner: Frank Bellino.
Trainer: Bruce Saunders. Driver: Dan Dube.
Races: 21-16-2-1. Purses: $2.15 million. Mark: 1:47.3 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $604,100 Little Brown Jug; 604,000 Tattersalls; $500,000 Breeders Crown.
Lucky Chucky
Windsong’s Legacy-Aerobics-Muscles Yankee
Breeder: Perretti Farms.
Owners: SGS Partners, Perretti Racing Stable, Lindy Racing Stable
Trainer: Chuck Sylvester. Driver: John Campbell.
Races: 11-5-3-1. Purses: $1.43 million. Mark: 1:50.4 at the Red Mile.
Top wins: $970,000 Canadian Trotting Classic; $500,000 Colonial.
Pastor Stephen
2-YEAR-OLD-FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Crys Dream
Taurus Dream-Crysta’s Image-Balanced Image
Breeder: Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme.
Owners: Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme, Deo Volente Farms, TLP Stable.
Trainer: Henrik Hollsten. Drivers: Jean Dubois, Luc Ouellette.
Races: 8-7-0-0. Purses: $584,392. Mark: 1:54.3 at Woodbine.
Top wins: $502,000 Goldsmith Maid; $452,020 Peaceful Way.
3-YEAR-OLD-FILLY TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Bar Slide
Yankee Glide-Marla Bar-Malabar Man
Breeder: Fair Winds Farm.
Owners: Fredericka Caldwell, Bluestone Farms.
Trainer: Joe Holloway. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 14-5-2-1. Purses: $568,529. Mark: 1:52.4 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks; $70,500 Bluegrass.
OLDER MALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Enough Talk
Enjoy Lavec-Fashion Setter-Donerail
Breeder: Perretti Farms
Owners: Peter Kleinhans Racing, Jerry Silva.
Trainer: Peter Kleinhans. Driver: Ron Pierce.
Races: 17-5-4-1. Purses: 641,022. Mark: 1:51.0 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $235,750 Titan Cup.
OLDER FEMALE TROTTER OF THE YEAR
Buck I St Pat
Jailhouse Jesse-Name It Something-Speed In Action
Breeder: Ron Fuller.
Owners: Howard Taylor, Edwin Gold, Abraham Basen, Ron Fuller.
Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 19-9-3-4. Purses: $715,135. Mark: 1:51.0 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $340,470 Armbro Flight; 250,000 Breeders Crown.
2-YEAR-OLD MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Big Jim
Western Ideal-Bold Pink-Big Towner
Breeder: Hanover Shoe Farms.
Owner: Jim Carr.
Trainer: James “Friday” Dean. Driver: Phil Hudon.
Races: 10-6-1-2. Purses: $827,204. Mark: 1:49.1 at Woodbine (world record).
Top wins: $709,000 Governor’s Cup; $600,000 Breeders Crown.
2-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR
See You At Peelers
Bettor’s Delight-West Side Glory-Western Ideal
Breeder: Christina Takter.
Owners: Christina Takter, John Fielding, Jim Fielding.
Trainer: Jimmy Takter. Driver: Jim Morrill Jr.
Races: 13-13-0-0. Purses: $581,649. Mark: 1:51.3 at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.
Top wins: $600,000 Breeders Crown; $200,000 New York Sire Stakes championship.
3-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACER OF THE YEAR
Put On A Show
Rocknroll Hanover-Stienam’s Place-Artsplace
Breeders: Green Mountain Farms, Kentuckiana Farms General Partnership.
Owners: Craig Henderson, Richard Young, Joanne Young.
Trainer: Chris Ryder. Driver: Tim Tetrick.
Races: 16-12-3-0. Purses: $1.16 million. Mark: 1:49.4 at the Red Mile.
Top wins: $500,000 Breeders Crown; $350,000 Valley Forge.
OLDER MALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Won The West
Western Hanover-Gabrielle-Dragon’s Lair
Breeder: Fair Winds Farm
Owners: Strollin Stable, William Robinson, James Koehler.
Trainer: Ron Burke. Driver: David Miller.
Races: 19-7-8-3. Purses: $1.36 million. Mark: 1:48.1 at the Meadowlands.
Top wins: $748,800 Canadian Pacing Derby; $500,000 Breeders Crown.
OLDER FEMALE PACER OF THE YEAR
Dreamfair Eternal
Camluck-J Cs Nathalie-Flight Of Fire
Breeders: John Lamers, Mary Lamers
Owner: John Lamers
Trainer: Patrick Fletcher. Driver: Randy Waples.
Races: 22-16-4-1. Purses: $925,575. Mark: 1:49.4 at Tioga Downs.
Top wins: $364,560 Milton; $300,000 Breeders Crown.
(Harness Racing Communications)