Saratoga Springs, NY — Blazing Home N (Rock N Roll Heaven) prevailed in the 17th Annual Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace, held Saturday night (Aug. 29) at Saratoga Casino Hotel. One of the richest races of the year at the Spa saw nine participants square off for a purse of $100,000. The event concluding a two-month stint in which the top local pacers slugged it out in Invitational races to accrue points towards the Saturday Final.
Blazing Home N scored just one victory in his six tries in the Invitational races but finished on the board in each of his starts. Drawing post six in the Gerrity, Blazing Home N showed early speed to land in third for owner/trainer/driver Larry Stalbaum, but made a charge towards the lead crossing over in an opening quarter of :26.4. The 7-2 shot in the wagering reached the half in :55.3 while bracing for the challenge of the favored Binge On Yankee (Kyle Swift), who had to come from well off the pace.
Blazing Home N maintained a lead of two-plus lengths throughout before seeing that margin diminished late by the 3-5 favorite Binge On Yankee, who closed to come up just a neck short of recording the victory. Longshot Full Metal Jacket (Wally Hennessey) made up a lot of ground in the race’s final half, coming on to earn the show spot.
The win was his ninth of the season for Blazing Home N.
Live racing resumes on Monday afternoon (Aug. 31) at Saratoga with a matinee that will begin at 12 p.m.