by Carol Hodes, for the SBOANJ

Manalapan, NJ — In a battle to the wire, 2-1 Katies Rocker slipped up the pylons to nip 1-2 Ideal Rocky in the $30,000 New Jersey Futurity for 2-year-old pacers, the featured sixth race on Saturday (Oct. 24) at Freehold Raceway.

Helene Gregory/World Wide Racing Photos

Katies Rocker slipped up the pylons to nip Ideal Rocky in the $30,000 New Jersey Futurity for 2-year-old pacers.

Ideal Rocky, winner of the Lou Babic at Freehold and a division of the International Stallion Stakes at The Red Mile, took the lead from Katies Rocker before the half and was leading well into the stretch.

But then Jim Marohn Jr. moved the pocket-sitting Katies Rocker up the pylons to win the tight photo finish by a nose. It was 1-1/4 lengths back to Don’tcallmefrancis in third. The time of the race was 1:55.3.

The top three finishers are all sons of the late Rocknroll Hanover.

Katies Rocker ($6.80), trained by Jim Campbell, posted his fifth win with two seconds in 10 starts. A winner of divisions of the Reynolds and Bluegrass, he is owned by his breeder, Fashion Farms LLC. The victory lifted his earnings to $134,348.

The New Jersey Futurity is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.