from Hollywood Dayton Raceway

Dayton, OH — Princeofrocknroll produced the highest $2 win mutuel in the three-year history of Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Thursday night (Oct. 27).

Despite winning six races and more than $26,000 at Ohio county fairs this summer, the 3-year-old son of World Of Rocknroll was dispatched at odds of more than 99-1 and returned $211.20 to his backers following his come-from-behind 1:55.2 triumph.

Starting from the eight-hole in a condition labeled “non-winners of two pari-mutuel races at extended commercial meets,” driver Kyle Ater, sitting behind Princeofrocknroll for the first time, was content to settle last in the nine-horse field through the first half-mile.

By the three-quarters Ater had moved his charge up to seventh in the outer flow, then fanned three-wide in fifth position for the stretch drive. To the astonishment of most handicappers, the handsome bay colt breezed past all adversaries in the final sixteenth to finish 3-1/2 lengths to the good.

Princeofrocknroll’s upset score was the 35th career win for trainer Kirk Sparks. The 44-year-old conditioner notched six training wins in a short first stint in the business from 2002-2005. Married and with two children, Sparks opted for the security of a full-time job in a steel factory for the next decade before returning to training in early 2015.

Following a semi-successful initial season with seven wins from his small stable, Sparks has blossomed into a high percentage trainer from his three-horse stable in 2016. The most recent longshot victory was the 22nd of the year for the Sparks Stable that currently sports a UTR average around .500.

Carol Johnston owns Princeofrocknroll, whose juvenile bankroll has grown to $35,000.