Saratoga Springs, NY – Rocknroll Runa A (Rock N Roll Heaven) won the final two installments of the Open Pace contested in 2023 at Saratoga Casino Hotel.

Rocknroll Runa A won the feature Open at Hawthorne Saturday night. Jessica Hallett photo.

Larry Stalbaum owns and trains the Aussie-bred invader who enjoyed a monster 2023 campaign that saw him earn more than $230,000 with 13 wins in 39 starts.

The first Open Pace of the 2024 was contested on Saturday evening (Feb. 3) on an opening day card that consisted of 10 races.

Rocknroll Runa A was moved to the lead in the early going by Stalbaum, who sat behind his stable’s star in Saturday’s $15,000 feature. The 7-year-old cruised unopposed through a first half in :57.1 but was challenged past three-quarters by Pickup Man Hanover (Shawn Gray) who popped the pocket to take on the favored leader around the final turn.

Rocknroll Runa A proved up to the task as he stopped the timer in 1:53.3 to win the season’s first Open. Pickup Man Hanover settled for second best while Seventh Secret (Jimmy Devaux) earned the show spot.

Rocknroll Runa A paid $3.50 to win and led an ($2) exacta and ($2) triple that returned $17 and $86.50, respectively.

Stalbaum completed a Saturday night driver/trainer double when his Crockets Cullen N prevailed in a $10,500 race for conditioned pacers. A former Pacer of the Year at the Spa, Crockets Cullen N made the first start of his 13-year-old season a winning one as he proved an impressive 2-3/4 length winner in a mile clocked in 1:55.

Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 4) with a matinee that begins at noon.