by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes
Freehold, NJ — Arockin Hanover, with a three-wide move on the final turn, charged down the stretch to win the $25,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Green Acres championship for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings in 1:54.3 on Saturday (Oct. 1) at Freehold Raceway.
Eric Abbatiello drove the gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover to a three length victory for trainer Erv Miller and owners John Carver, Greg Gillis and Clarice Munroe. It was the fifth win in 19 races this year and ninth overall in his career. The $12,500 winner’s share of the purse boosted Arockin Hanover’s earnings to $106,201 in 2011 and $223,243 for his career.
It was a repeat NJSS Green Acres performance for Arockin Hanover, who won the NJSS Green Acres Championship for 2-year-old pacing colts and gedlings last year.
Diamondonthebeach (Cam’s Card Shark) was a fast-closing second, while Shu Fu (Matt’s Scooter) finished third. The race’s pacesetter, Four Starz Q (Cam’s Card Shark), faded to fourth after setting early fractions of :26.3, :56.2 and 1:25.