by James Witherite, Meadowlands Media Relations
East Rutherford, NJ — Odds-on choice Rockeyed Optimistrolled to the front and never looked back en route to his third consecutive winin Saturday (March 12) night’s $25,000 Open Handicap Pace at The Meadowlands,and handle exceeded $3 million for the 12th time in the last 13 cards at theNorth Jersey harness track.
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Lisa photo
Rockeyed Optimist scored his third straight win in Saturday’s Open Handicap Pace at The Meadowlands.
In the featured $25,000 Open Handicap Pace, RockeyedOptimist ($3.60) sprinted off from his five rivals after using the first three-eighthsof the mile to work clear, earning his third consecutive win and second at theOpen level. Tim Tetrick spotted the 5-year-old Rocknroll Hanover geldingsecond-over on the first turn, tracking Bettor’s Edge (Joe Bongiorno) through a:27.1 quarter before losing cover and subsequently working clear on thebackstretch. Once assuming the lead, Rockeyed Optimist faced no pressure,edging clear off the far turn and powering home in 1:49, using a :26 lastquarter burst to evade his foes. Rockeyed Optimist ultimately prevailedby two lengths over Bettor’s Edge, while Sunfire Blue Chip (John Campbell)stayed on for third from his stalking trip.
Steve Elliott trains the 18-time winner for the partnershipof Perretti, Berkner, the A & B Stable, and Battaglia. For Elliott,it was a sweep of the evening’s featured events, as another trainee of his–ArtHistory ($8.20)–captured the night’s sub-featured $16,000 upper-levelconditioned pace earlier in the program. The 5-year-old Western Ideal geldingsustained a first-over push through the far turn, overtaking 2014 Little BrownJug winner Limelight Beach in mid-stretch and subsequently staving off a laterally from K-Lees Shakenbake. Scott Zeron drove 12-time winner ArtHistory to his 1:50 triumph.
Anthony Napolitano led all drivers with a grand slam,teaming up with Honey I’m Home ($2.80, 1:51.4), Hoboken Hanover ($7.40,1:52.2), Last Dragon ($18.00, 1:50.2), and Major War ($4.60, 1:50.3). Tetrick and Bongiorno drove three winners apiece on the 13-race card.
Total betting turnover exceeded $3 million for the 12th timein the last 13 cards at The Meadowlands, with punters wagering $3,088,696 onthe Saturday program–$423,919 more than the corresponding Saturday card in2015.
Racing returns to The Meadowlands on Friday (March 18)evening, with post time at 7:15 p.m. EDT, $105,000 in guaranteed Pick-4 andPick-5 pools, and a last-race 20 cent Jackpot High 5 carryover of $135,800.