by John Pawlak, the U.S. Trotting Association

East Rutherford, NJ — Lothlorien’s Rockin Image sped past Rock N Roll Heaven to win the $115,500 first division of the Oliver Wendell Holmes for 3-year-old pacing colts at the Meadowlands on Saturday afternoon (August 7).

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Rockin Image (#7) sped past Rock N Roll Heaven to win the $115,500 first division of the Oliver Wendell Holmes for 3-year-old pacing colts.

Driver Yannick Gingras pounced with the winner at the three-quarters, reached in 1:21.2 after the runner-up had moved to the lead at the :53.3 half-mile.

As the top two battled, and Rock N Roll Heaven appeared momentarily to have enough to reclaim the lead, Rockin Image prevailed by a nose in 1:48.2.

“Last week I had to use him early (in the Delvin Miller Adios Final),” Gingras said. “That’s not his game. If I can save him he’s a lot better.”

Rockin Image (Rocknroll Hanover–Kikikate, by Real Artist) won for the fourth time from among nine starts this year and has won $216,157 this year. He was bred by L&L DeVisser in Michigan.

Badlands Racing, George Teague, Jr., Elmer Fannin and Howard Dorfman’s Delmarvalous, last week’s Delvin Miller Adios winner, prevailed in an expected duel with One More Laugh, the 2010 Meadowlands Pace winner, in the $115,500 second division of the Oliver Wendell Holmes for 3-year-old pacing colts.

Delmarvalous, driven by Brian Sears for trainer George Teague, Jr., won in 1:48.2, a life-best by one full second.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Delmarvalous prevailed in an expected duel with One More Laugh in the $115,500 second division of the Oliver Wendell Holmes.

The winner got away first, and the runner-up, steered by Tim Tetrick, took the lead as they passed the quarter pole in :26.4. They stayed that way until Delmarvalous came clear in the late stages and held his rival safe at the wire. One More Laugh was second at the finish and Valentino (George Brennan) was third — the position in which he had raced early.

Delmarvalous won for only the second time in 10 trips this year, following a string of unlucky starts, and has banked more than $417,000 in 2010.

“It was nice to get a two-hole trip like that,” Brian Sears said. “My horse is aggressive and I need to get him to relax.”

Commenting about success he’s had for the winning trainer, Sears said, “I can’t say enough about George (Teague, Jr.) He’s a great guy.”

The son of Badlands Hanover–Prymetyme Scootie (by Scoot Herb) was bred by Winbak Farm.