by Gabe Prewitt, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — The nine race Saturday (Oct. 23) card at The Red Mile could be described as a who’s who in the sport of harness racing, as 16 trotting and pacing millionaires will take to the track to compete in the all stakes program.

The featured event on the final day of racing in 2010 will be the $604,000 40th renewal of the Tattersalls Pace for 11 of the top 3-year-old pacing colts in North America. Although all 11 are six figure earners throughout their careers, many people are viewing the race as possibly a final showdown between the top two 3-year-old colts in the country, Rock N Roll Heaven and One More Laugh.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Rock N Roll Heaven is the 2-1 morning line favorite in the Tattersalls Pace.

Rock N Roll Heaven, bred by the former University of Kentucky All-American Cotton Nash and his family, is entering Saturday’s ninth race feature having won five consecutive stakes events including the $650,000 Little Brown Jug and the $500,000 Breeders Crown. The Rocknroll Hanover colt also won a $111,500 Bluegrass division last Saturday at The Red Mile to push his career earnings to over $2.1 million. Rock N Roll Heaven has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite for Saturday’s $604,000 Tattersalls Pace and has 16 wins, six seconds and two thirds from 26 career starts.

One More Laugh, winner of the $1 million Meadowlands Pace back in July, also was an easy winner in his only start across The Red Mile strip this season last Saturday in a separate $111,500 Bluegrass division. The gelded son of McArdle has earned over $1.7 million through an identical 16 wins and six seconds, to go along with one third in 27 career starts. One More Laugh has been installed as the 5-2 second choice for Saturday’s ninth race.

Saturday’s $604,000 Tattersalls Pace will serve as a rubber match for the two top 3-year-olds, with One More Laugh beating out Rock N Roll Heaven by a nose in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace earlier this season and Rock N Roll Heaven taking the $500,000 Breeders Crown after One More Laugh made a break in stride.

The complete field for the 40th Tattersalls Pace is listed below:

$604,000 Tattersalls Pace
Horse-Driver-Odds-Lifetime Earnings
1. Urgent Action-D. Miller-15-1-$125,560
2. Shoobee’s Place-R. Pierce-12-1-$258,786
3. Rock N Roll Heaven-D. Dube-2-1-$2,122,153
4. Dreamlands Art-J. Morrill Jr.-12-1-$124,922
5. One More Laugh-T. Tetrick-5-2-$1,746,835
6. Rockin Image-Y. Gingras-8-1-$646,528
7. Allthatgltrsisgold-D. Magee-20-1-$367,404
8. World of Rocknroll-B. Sears-20-1-$312,446
9. Aracache Hanover-D. McNair-15-1-$583,031
10. Piece Of The Rock-G. Brennan-20-1-$344,836
11. Razzle Dazzle-J. Campbell-6-1-$156,914

Kentucky Futurity Encore

Another showdown on Saturday’s stellar all stakes card will take place in a $121,500 Bluegrass division for 3-year-old colt trotters as Kentucky Futurity champion Wishing Stone will put his four race Red Mile undefeated streak on the line against Lucky Chucky.

Wishing Stone won the $501,000 Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile last Saturday by 1-3/4 lengths over Lucky Chucky, who finished second. Lucky Chucky, a winner of over $2 million, has been made the 2-1 second choice, while Wishing Stone will open as the 9-5 favorite.

$144,100 Allerage Farms Pace

The richest Standardbred currently in training, Won The West, a winner of over $3.37 million, will also be competing on Saturday’s Red Mile card as the 3-1 morning line favorite in the $144,100 Allerage Farms Open Pace. The race attracted a top field of eight with combined earnings of well over $12 million.

First post on Saturday afternoon at The Red Mile is 12:30 p.m. Gates open at 11 a.m. and admission is only $2 while parking is free. The nine race card is scheduled to wrap up well before 4 p.m., leaving plenty of time for those planning to attend Saturday evening’s University of Kentucky football game at Commonwealth Stadium.