by Mike Paradise, for the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association

Du Quoin, IL — Mike Brink, trainer of Illinois State Fair freshman trotting stakes champion Rock Hollywood, has been in the business through four decades and for the first time he believes he has that “special horse” that perhaps comes along once in a lifetime.

“From day one I thought he was going to be a good one,” said Brink, who will send out Rock Hollywood in this Saturday’s $45,000 Darn Safe 2-year-old colt trot stake final at the Du Quoin State Fair.

Balmoral Park photo

Rock Hollywood won his July 15 debut at Balmoral Park in 2:00.1 for driver/trainer Mike Brink.

“In the 40 years I’ve been training I’ve never had an easier horse to train,” continued the 56-year-old Springfield, Ill. based conditioner. “Rock Hollywood hasn’t done anything flashy but he’s never done anything wrong. From the time we broke him barefooted, to the time we put shoes on him, to the times we’ve raced him he has never made a break. He’s done everything I’ve asked of him and with ease.”

Rock Hollywood is a son of Illinois stallion Psychic Spirit out of Brink’s broodmare, Serfafine The Great, a daughter of Balanced Image.

“Rock Hollywood is a big horse,” said Brink. “He stands 16 hands high.”

Rock Hollywood’s size, conformation and fluid gait caught the attention of a number of horsemen at Balmoral Park when the colt won his July 15 debut in a $5,000 division of the Physic Spirit stake, coming from next to last to finish first in 2:00.1 with Brink at his lines.

“The first time I saw Rock Hollywood was in a baby race at Balmoral and I said to myself, ‘There’s a beautiful looking young trotter,’” said Hall of Famer Dave Magee who took over the driving duties on the youngster in his 1:58.2 winning mile at Springfield.

Rock Hollywood drew the attention of potential buyers after his winning bow and Brink was willing to sell if the price was right.

“I’ve always believed Rock Hollywood could be a good one and maybe that’s why he hasn’t been an easy horse to sell,” explained Brink. “I hadn’t been offered what I thought was a fair price for him until I got a call from Mr. (Kjell Magne) Andersen from Oslo, Norway, who had some people come out and look at him. I guess you could say Mr. Andersen made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.

“I wanted to hold on to a piece of the horse but Mr. Andersen said he had a partner once and that it didn’t work out so he didn’t want to go that way. I told him it would cost him more to be the sole owner but he said it didn’t matter, so I agreed to the sale.

“I didn’t plan on keeping the horse to train because sometimes that doesn’t work out but Mr. Andersen asked me to do so because he didn’t know anybody in Illinois and he liked the job I had done so far with the horse, so why change things?

“Rock Hollywood is still green and he’s still learning but he’s getting better and better and his best days are ahead of him. After Du Quoin he’s headed up north to Balmoral for the Lincoln Land, the Cardinal, and the Sarah Myers,” added Brink.

Editor’s Note: Mike Paradise writes a daily column for the I.H.H.A at www.harnessillinois.com