by Mike Sardella, for Saratoga

Saratoga, NY — Bettor Rock On N (Bettor’s Delight) came from well off the pace to secure the victory in the first feature of the 2017 racing season at Saratoga Casino Hotel on the Sunday (Feb. 19) opening day card.

Melissa Simser-Iovino photo

Bettor Rock On N captures the first feature of the 2017 season at Saratoga on Sunday afternoon.

The Heidi Rohr trainee was sitting last, nearly a dozen lengths off of the lead at the half-mile pole in Sunday’s $12,000 Open Pace, but the patience of driver Bruce Aldrich Jr. paid off as the front end started to give way and Bettor Rock On N started to pick off horses one by one in the final quarter-mile.

A late surge at the wire secured the victory for the 8-year-old pacer who was a recent addition to the Rohr stable.

Bettor Rock On N stopped the timer in 1:53.3 as he nosed out the favored E Z Noah (Billy Dobson) in the final stride.

Paying $7.50 to win, Bettor Rock On N prevailed for the second time in ’17 after securing a victory at Yonkers earlier in the month. E Z Noah had to settle for second while Roethblissberger (Mark Beckwith) earned the show spot in his local debut.

The exacta and triple returned $24.60 and $96.50, respectively.

Live racing continues on Monday afternoon (Feb. 20) with another matinee that is scheduled to kick off at 12:15 p.m.