by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Maywood Park

Melrose Park, IL — Illinois bred trotting sensation Southern Rocketop, a world record holder at the age of two, will look to continue his amazing rise to glory when he takes on six other 3-year-old trotting colts in Friday’s (Nov. 20) $90,000 Galt Trot at Maywood Park.

Although some untimely breaks plagued the headstrong son of Psychic Spirit early in his career he still managed to etch his name into the record books as the fastest 2-year-old gelding trotter of all time with his 1:54.4 clocking in the State Fair Stakes in Springfield in August of 2008.

Balmoral Park photo

Southern Rocketop has posted 19 wins in his career, with earnings of $585,141.

Under the guidance of conditioner Monique Bernardi during his freshman campaign, Southern Rocketop put together a record of nine wins and one second in 14 starts while earning $152,105. Among the gelding’s biggest wins were the $120,000 Lincoln Land Stake, the $52,500 Maxter Stake, the $50,000 State Fair Stake and the $47,850 Cardinal Stake.

Moved by owner Claude Powers to the barn of Tennessee based conditioner Robert Taylor to prep for his 3-year-old season, Southern Rocketop continued to mature, making him a much faster and much more versatile racehorse.

“He has really blossomed into a very good horse,” said Taylor. “He’s a real nice horse to be around. He has a good personality and he basically takes care of himself and once he hits the track he’s all business.”

Primed for a big second season Southern Rocketop continued to dominate the state-bred ranks early in his 2009 campaign. That prompted his connections to send him outside the Prairie State and up to Canada where he finished fourth in the final of the Goodtimes Stake. He also caught the attention of many by winning an elimination of the Canadian Trotting Classic at Mohawk before finishing third behind Muscle Hill and Explosive Matter in the final of that event.

Southern Rocketop also squared off against the great Muscle Hill in the World Trotting Derby and the American-National, finishing second and third, respectively, in those two starts.

A dual track record holder at Balmoral Park (2-year-old gelding — 1:54.4 and 3-year-old gelding — 1:52.2) Southern Rocketop comes into the Galt Stake fresh off a wire-to-wire score in the $33,100 Circle City Stake at Indiana Downs. For the year Southern Rocketop boasts a record of 10-3-2 in 16 starts with earnings of $433,036.

The bay gelding is also racing for a new owner after being purchased recently by Tor Birger Krageboen of Norway for an undisclosed sum. Future plans for his 4-year-old campaign are unknown at this time.