by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — The defending champion, Rocklamation, did it once again as she posted the 12-1 upset in this year’s C$284,000 Milton Stakes final on Saturday evening (Sept. 21) at Mohawk. The pacing miss equaled her own stakes record of 1:49.4 taken last year at odds of 23-1.

The race changed drastically from the start as even-money favorite Drop The Ball (Doug McNair) made a break behind the starting gate.

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Rocklamation was a repeat winner in the Milton on Saturday at Mohawk.

With an outside post nine start, Rocklamation, driven by Brett Miller, was in no hurry off the gate as Voelz Hanover (Randy Waples) blasted to the front from post seven, but allowed the 5-2 second choice Anndrovette (Scott Zeron) to take command at the opening quarter in a quick :26.

Heading towards the half, Waples tried to regain the front with Voelz Hanover, but could only match strides with Anndrovette as the pair dueled past the half in a sizzling :53.2, before Voelz Hanover angled back into the pocket.

Krispy Apple (Billy Davis, Jr.) began the first over attack around the final turn, but quickly flushed Voelz Hanover once again to the outside as Anndrovette marched past three-quarters in 1:20.1.

Rocklamation and Miller were sitting eighth, 10-3/4 lengths off the tempo setter turning for home.

Down the stretch, Anndrovette was still in command, but the backfield began to fan across the racetrack. Swinging Beauty (Sylvain Filion) came from off the pace and was closing hard on the outside, but couldn’t match strides with Rocklamation, who unleashed a punishing late kick in deep stretch to score the one length victory. Swinging Beauty finished second with Anndrovette third.

“She’s so much better off the pace,” Miller said following the win. “Last year when I drove her in the elimination, she finished third then Ronnie (trainer Ron Burke) told me to not go forward with her and that she races so much better off the pace. She won the Milton last year off the pace and I raced her the same way (tonight) and she was just awesome.”

Miller admits he wasn’t as worried sitting at the three-quarter pole as he normally would be.

“Some of those mares looked like they were starting to struggle and I pulled her blinds down at the top of the stretch and she nearly pulled me out of the seat and when I fanned her out wide, it was over.”

With the win, Rocklamation notched her fifth triumph of the season from 17 starts. The 19-time career winner is owned by Our Horse Cents Stables, Stable 45 and J And T Silva Stables LLC. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover increased her bankroll to C$1,649,812.

She paid $27.10 to win.