by Ken Weingartner and Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Rock N Roll Heaven and driver John Campbell will start Saturday’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace at Meadowlands Racetrack from post No. 3 and were installed the 5-2 morning line favorites.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Rock N Roll Heaven has won 10 of 18 career starts with earnings of $994,726.

Campbell, by virtue of Rock N Roll Heaven winning his elimination race last week, picked his starting spot Wednesday during the Meadowlands Pace draw. He selected after Jimmy Takter, the trainer of elim winner Rockin Image, chose post two for his colt.

“(Post three) is the closest to Rockin Image and I don’t want the rail,” said Campbell, who has won the Meadowlands Pace a record seven times. “There’s a chance of getting shut in on the rail.”

Rockin Image, to be driven by Yannick Gingras, was made the 3-1 second choice in the morning line.

“He had (post two) last week and that worked out,” Takter said.

The third elimination winner, OK Commander, was scratched from the race Wednesday because of an abscess in his right front leg. Delmarvalous, who was fourth in the elimination won by Rock N Roll Heaven, moved into the final and drew post No. 6 in the open draw.

OK Commander is the first elimination winner to miss the final since BG’s Bunny in the inaugural Meadowlands Pace in 1977. BG’s Bunny set a world record of 1:54 in his elim that year, but was scratched because of lameness and never raced again.

Lisa photo

Rock N Roll Heaven’s 1:47.3 score was the fastest elimination in Meadowlands Pace history.

Rock N Roll Heaven has won 10 of 18 career starts and earned $994,726 for trainer Bruce Saunders and owner Frank Bellino. He has won six of nine lifetime races (and never been worse than third) at the Meadowlands, which is his home track.

Last week, Rock N Roll Heaven won his Meadowlands Pace elimination by 1-1/4 lengths over One More Laugh in 1:47.3. It was the fastest Pace elim in history and followed the colt’s fourth-place finish as the favorite in the $1.45 million North America Cup on June 26.

“I honestly was shaking a little bit when John came across the finish line,” Saunders said. “This is an absolutely sensational colt. He loves it here and doesn’t have a lot of issues to be concerned with.”

Rockin Image enters the final coming off a two length win over I’m Gorgeous in 1:48.4 in his elimination race. He has won back-to-back starts after opening the year with three losses while battling breathing issues.

USTA/Ellen Harvey photo

Trainer Jimmy Takter tells Meadowlands announcer Sam McKee that he’ll take post #2 for Rockin’ Image.

Takter could become the sixth trainer to win both of the Meadowlands’ million-dollar stakes — the Meadowlands Pace and the Hambletonian. The others are Steve Elliott, Blair Burgess, Chuck Sylvester, Bill Haughton and Ray Remmen. Takter won the 1997 Hambletonian with Malabar Man.

“I was always cocky about this horse,” Takter said about Rockin Image, who is a son of 2005 Meadowlands Pace winner Rocknroll Hanover, out of Kikikatie (who was the 2003 2-year-old filly division champion). “I’ve always said he’s the best 3-year-old in the country. And I believe that. I believe he is the best horse in the country.

“He had the (breathing) trouble that hopefully we got taken care of. I trained this horse in 1:49.3 on my farm and he couldn’t breathe the last three-eighths. That’s like a (1):46 mile at the Meadowlands. I think he can go fast. I think he can do a little dirty job. It’s not necessary for him to get the trip.

“Ability and gait wise, pedigree, the whole package is there.”

Sportswriter, who won the North America Cup, drew post No. 10 for the Meadowlands Pace final. It will be just the latest obstacle for the colt to rise above: He had foot trouble prior to the North America Cup and overcame heat woes to advance to the Meadowlands Pace final.

Trained by Casie Coleman, who is seeking to become the first female trainer to win the Meadowlands Pace, Sportswriter is looking to duplicate Well Said’s North America Cup-Meadowlands Pace double in 2009. Others to win both races are Rocknroll Hanover (2005), Gallo Blue Chip (2000), The Panderosa (1999), David’s Pass (1995), Cam’s Card Shark (1994), Presidential Ball (1993), and Precious Bunny (1991).

Presidential Ball and Rocknroll Hanover are the only horses to win the Metro Pace at age 2 and also win both million-dollar races as 3-year-olds.

“He’s a warrior,” driver Mark MacDonald said. “It seems like we’ve always got something to overcome with this horse. He’s just such a game horse. One of these days, everything is going to come together for this horse. It’s been one thing after another, but he seems to show up for the big dances. That’s the main thing.”

Following is the field in post position order for Saturday’s $1 million Meadowlands Pace at Meadowlands Racetrack, with listed drivers, trainers (and odds): 1. Kyle Major, Jody Jamieson, Shawn Robinson (15-1); 2. Rockin Image, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter (3-1); 3. Rock N Roll Heaven, John Campbell, Bruce Saunders (5-2); 4. Valentino, George Brennan, Lou Pena (15-1); 5. I’m Gorgeous, Andy Miller, George Teague, Jr. (12-1); 6. Delmarvalous, Brian Sears, George Teague, Jr. (12-1); 7. Nova Artist, Brian Sears, Lou Pena (15-1); 8. One More Laugh, Tim Tetrick, Ray Schnittker (9-2); 9. Fred And Ginger, Dave Palone, Ron Burke (10-1); 10. Sportswriter, Mark MacDonald, Casie Coleman (6-1).

Owners: 1. Robert Hamather; 2. Lothlorien; 3. Frank Bellino; 4. KDM Stables, JL Benson Stables; 5. George Teague Jr. Inc., Elmer Fannin; 6. Badlands Racing, George Teague Jr. Inc., Elmer Fannin, Howard Dorfman; 7. Kathleen Davis; 8. Mathias Meinzinger, Jerry Silva, Ray Schnittker; 9. Howard Taylor, Robert Feldman, Edwin Gold, Jerry Silva; 10. Steve Calhoun, West Wins Stable, Southwind Farm.