by Perry Lefko, for the Breeders Crown

Toronto, ON — The Boston Red Sox didn’t have a great year, but Boston Red Rocks knocked it out of the park Saturday night (Oct. 24) at Woodbine Racetrack in the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old pace for colts and geldings.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Boston Red Rocks was a 1:51.3 winner.

Posting the biggest upset of the night to that point in the card, Boston Red Rocks, driven by Tim Tetrick, emerged from far back in the stretch and finished furiously to post an impressive 2-1/2 length victory in a lifetime best 1:51.3.

It was the third victory in seven career starts for the son of Rocknroll Hanover-McGibson. Owned by Peter Blood and Rick Berks, Boston Red Rocks had never finished worse than third. But he was basically overlooked because the focus going into the race was on Control The Moment, who had not lost in eight starts, and Racing Hill, who had won his last three. Control The Moment went postward at just under 9-10. Racing Hill was second in the wagering at 2-1.

Boston Red Rocks placed second to Racing Hill in his elimination race last week, and if he was going to have any chance he’d need a good pace up front to use his finishing kick.

It couldn’t have worked out any better.

Talk Show and Betting Line engaged in a heated battle for the early lead. Talk Show emerged on top following a :25.3 opening quarter, but Betting Line took over and led through a Breeders Crown record-setting half of :53.2. Racing Hill took over after three-quarters in 1:22.2. But heading into the stretch Betting Hill had a half-length lead over Racing Hill.

It looked promising for Racing Hill, bred and owned by Tom Hill of England, but the Roll With Joe colt driven by Brett Miller was having trouble clearing, setting it up for Control The Moment, driven by Randy Waples. It looked as if the colt would move seamlessly into the lead, but he lacked the finish he displayed in his previous races.

It was a matter at that point which horse would emerge from the back of the pack. Boston Red Rocks became the one. At the top of the stretch, he was sixth, five lengths back of the lead, seemingly out of it. But at the wire, he was so much the best.

Asked when he knew he had it won, Tetrick jokingly said at the end.

“My horse had a nice little sneaky run last week and I felt if the fractions were fair I could have a shot and he really finished well,” Tetrick said.

Tetrick drove the colt for the first time the week before and liked the effort.

“I really liked him, he’s very smart, great to drive,” he said. “He’s push-button and it worked out tonight. I tried to stay as close as I could (at the start), but when I saw Corey (Callahan) being aggressive with (Talk Show), he’s pretty aggressive when he gets on his way. I just wanted to be on the outside in the flow and I got led up good enough and my horse charged well.”

Backers of Boston Red Rocks were rewarded. The 18-1 longshot paid $38.90, $15.90, $11.20. Big Top Hanover, let go at 33-1, placed second and paid $25.50 to place and $14.30 to show. Nvestment Bluechip, another 33-1 longshot, placed third and paid $16.20.

The exacta paid $447.30. The trifecta paid a whopping $7,402.00.

With the win, Boston Red Rocks collected $300,000 and raised his lifetime earnings to $378,030.