by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications
Freehold, NJ — A Rocknroll Dance was made the 8-5 morning line favorite in Sunday’s (Nov. 13) $510,000 Governor’s Cup for 2-year-old male pacers at Harrah’s Chester after winning his elimination division last weekend by 1-3/4 lengths over Hillbilly Hanover in 1:51.2.
A Rocknroll Dance has won six of 10 races this year and earned $608,325. He has won six of his last eight starts, with the losses being second-place finishes in the million-dollar Metro Pace and $650,000 Breeders Crown. A Rocknroll Dance will start from post four with driver Yannick Gingras at the lines for trainer Jim Mulinix.
Also winning elims were Erv Miller-trained Speed Again and Joe Holloway-trained Escape The News. Speed Again, to be driven by Jody Jamieson, will start from post two while Escape The News, with driver Brian Sears, will leave from post three.
The rest of the field includes Mybrothergeorge, Mortal Zin, Bettor’s Edge, and Dynamic Youth.
Possess The Will won his Valley Victory elimination by 4-3/4 lengths over Southwind Warsaw in 1:55.3 and was established as the 8-5 favorite for the $410,000 five-horse final. He will start from post four with driver Tim Tetrick in the sulky for trainer Jim Campbell. Possess The Will has four wins in his last five races, with the lone setback being a second-place finish in the $600,000 Breeders Crown.
Highland Yankee won the other Valley Victory elim, defeating No Frosting by 4-1/4 lengths in 1:56.2. He will start from post three with Brian Sears driving for Bruce Saunders.
Vic Smith is the remaining horse in the final.
Lady Andi, who was the beaten favorite in her Goldsmith Maid elimination, was made the 5-2 favorite for the $365,000 final. Lady Andi, driven by Gingras for trainer Larry Rathbone, was second by a quarter-length to Superstar Hanover in 1:56.1 in the elim. Jimmy Takter trains and drives Superstar Hanover, who will start from post four — one spot inside of Lady Andi.
Win Missy B won the other elim by 1-1/2 lengths over Aunt Mel in 1:56.1. She will be driven from post three by Sears for trainer Charlie Norris and is the 7-2 second choice. Win Missy B has won six of her last eight races, with the two losses being second-place finishes to world-record-holder Check Me Out.
The rest of the Goldsmith Maid field is Pittypat Hanover, Playwear Hanover, Can’t Have My Moni, and American Lassie.
Economy Terror skipped last weekend’s prep race for the $380,000 Three Diamonds, but the Breeders Crown champion was made the 8-5 favorite after drawing post two for driver Sears and trainer Chris Oakes. Handsoffmycookie, who was second in the Breeders Crown, won the prep by 4-1/2 lengths over Shelliscape in 1:53.1. She will start from post three with Tetrick driving for trainer Scott DiDomenico.
The rest of the Three Diamonds field is Rockaround Sue, Robin Cruiser, Pirouette Hanover, Lightning Paige, and Major Look.
- Governor’s Cup hopeful Escape The News continues to improve (Thursday, November 10, 2011)
After his performance in a $22,540 division of the Tompkins-Geers at Tioga Downs on July 17, Joe Holloway recognized it was time to call the vet, so Escape The News could attain his true potential without causing bodily harm to himself or his handlers.