from the Meadowlands publicity department

East Rutherford, NJ — Rocknroll Hanover, the North America Cup champion and winner of five of six starts this year, was installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite in the $1 million Meadowlands Pace Final on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

The son of Western Ideal drew post five and heads a trio of Pace finalists trained by Brett Pelling and co-owned by Jeff Snyder. Their other entrants, Cam’s Fool and Village Jolt, drew posts six and one, respectively.

After leading the field into the stretch, Rocknroll Hanover was handed his first loss in six starts this year by Stonebridge Regal in the Meadowlands Pace eliminations. Rocknroll Hanover had not raced since capturing the $1.2 million North America Cup Final on June 18 at Woodbine.

“(Posts) two and three were taken and the widest one (we drew) is six, so I can’t complain about that,” trainer Brett Pelling said. “Going to Canada (for the North America Cup) is a difficult thing and two or three weeks off may have taken away a little of his sharpness, but going to the half in :53 last week will toughen him up. He’s a big, fierce-going horse. He likes to pace in the bridle and he doesn’t need a lot of work in between races. He’s an awfully special horse. He’s been taking good care of himself. He came out of the race sound. Out of my three, he’s in the best position at this point in the year.”

New York City resident Snyder shares ownership of Rocknroll Hanover with Audrey Campbell’s Lothlorien Equestrian Center of Mississauga, Ontario. Brian Sears has the driving assignment.

“I’m real happy with the draw,” Sears said. “After three weeks off he needed the race. He came out of it good. He feels great and now I’m looking forward to this week. He’s real handy. He’s a two-finger drive, I can start him up or stop him on a dime.”

Pelling is looking for his fourth win in the track’s signature event for three-year-old pacers. His previous winners are David’s Pass (1995), Dream Away (1997) and The Panderosa (1999). Jeff Snyder won the event in 1994 with Cam’s Card Shark.

Stonebridge Regal was chosen as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line after his upset over the 1-5 favorite last week. Elimination winners earned the right to choose their post position in the final, and trainer Bob McIntosh and driver Jack Moiseyev selected post three for the Artsplace colt.

Stonebridge Regal has a 2005 record of 10 wins and three seconds in 14 starts. He equaled his mark of 1:49.3 in last week’s elim. He races for Robert Kauffman of New Albany, Ohio, Angie Stiller of Arva, Ontario, the Robert McIntosh Stable of LaSalle, Ontario and W Springtime Racing Stable (Wendy and Skip Spring) of Johnstown, New York.

Although Hall of Famer Bob McIntosh has captured nearly every major stake in harness racing, he is still searching for his first Meadowlands Pace trophy.

Post — Horse — Driver — Trainer — Odds
1. Village Jolt — Ron Pierce — Brett Pelling — 8-1
2. Leading X Ample — Eric Ledford — William Elliott — 5-1
3. Stonebridge Regal — Jack Moiseyev — Robert McIntosh — 3-1
4. George At Bigs — Jim Morrill, Jr. — Mark Harder — 15-1
5. Rocknroll Hanover — Brian Sears — Brett Pelling — 5-2
6. Cam’s Fool — John Campbell — Brett Pelling — 6-1
7. Load The Dice — Mike Lachance — Chris Ryder — 15-1
8. Team Hutch — David Miller — Homer Hochstetler — 10-1
9. Allamerican Inca — David Miller — Noel Daley — 15-1
10. American Ideal — George Brennan — Casie Coleman — 12-1