Rocknroll Hanover win 2005 Meadowlands Pace with new stakes record

July 16, 2005

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Rocknroll Hanover took charge down the backstretch and set a stakes record in winning the $1 million Meadowlands Pace on Saturday night.

Village Jolt was three lengths back in second, while Stonebridge Regal -- the only horse who had a chance to overtake Rocknroll Hanover -- finished third after being hampered by an equipment problem.

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Rocknroll Hanover paced the mile in 1:48 3/5, erasing the mark of 1:49 set by Mach Three in 2002 and equaled by Holborn Hanover last year in the race for 3-year-olds. He paid $3.40, $2.60 and $2.40, while Village Jolt paid $6.80 and $4.40.

``This is the best he's ever raced. He was super sharp tonight,'' said winning driver Brian Sears, who got his first Pace win. The top two finishers are both trained by Brett Pelling -- who won a record fourth Pace -- but they were not coupled in the wagering.

Stonebridge Regal, who returned $2.60, broke a hobble during the race and driver Jack Moiseyev said the equipment failure prevented the colt from mounting a better challenge.

``The left hobble was down around his knees,'' Moiseyev said. ``I knew I was in trouble.''
American Ideal, trained by Casie Coleman, finished fourth. Coleman was trying to become the first woman to train a Pace winner.

The win was the sixth in seven starts this year for Rocknroll Hanover and earned his owners $500,000. It also was his second million-dollar victory -- he captured the $1.2 million North America Cup at Woodbine outside Toronto on June 18.

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