by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

Columbus, OH — Frank Bellino’s Rock N Roll Heaven certainly has been rolling lately, and the top-ranked Standardbred in North America can add a second consecutive U.S. Trotting Association Horse of the Month Award to his growing list of accomplishments.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Rock N Roll Heaven has won seven straight races — all in times of 1:49.2 or faster.

In the wake of his record-setting win in September’s $604,100 Little Brown Jug, the son of Rocknroll Hanover-Artistic Vision swept an elimination and the $500,000 final of the Breeders Crown at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs during October and then won consecutive starts during the Grand Circuit meet at Lexington’s Red Mile, where he won a $111,500 division of the Bluegrass Stakes and then returned the following week to win the $604,000 Tattersalls.

In all, the Bruce Sauders-trained star has won 13 of 18 races this year and has banked more than $1.8 million in the process. In his two years at the races he has won 17 times and enriched his owner to the tune of more than $2.4 million.

“Rock N Roll Heaven has a great caretaker (Lester Benson) and I try to stay out of their way,” Saunders said in the wake of the Tattersalls victory. “It’s a reflection on how tough he is and how much he wants to win.”

The likely favorite in this Saturday’s $437,100 Messenger Stakes, the final leg of the Pacing Triple Crown, has few opportunities to add to his stature in the sport. He will likely finish his year and racing career in Dover Downs’ Matron Stakes Final on Nov. 28 before heading to the breeding shed to produce champion sons and daughters — who will have a difficult time matching their sire’s ability on the racetrack.