Top colts on collision course
May 16, 2005,by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes
The nation’s top two three-year-old pacing colts, who both won their first starts of 2005 in the opening round of New Jersey Sire Stakes competition last Saturday night, could meet head-to-head in scheduled elimination heats for the $500,000 SBOA/New Jersey Pacing Classic this Saturday night at The Meadowlands.
Rocknroll Hanover (Western Ideal), who was a 1:50.4 winner of a $36,950 NJSS division, and Village Jolt (Cam’s Card Shark), who won his $36,350 NJSS division in 1:51.2, are both expected to enter the SBOA/NJ Classic. They are among 37 New Jersey-sired sophomore pacing colts eligible to the richest state-bred race in the nation.
If they don’t draw into the same elimination heat, scheduled for May 21, the colts could still meet in the final on May 28. The Classic was developed by the Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association of New Jersey to showcase New Jersey-sired pacers.
Village Jolt, the Dan Patch Award winner as two-year-old pacing colt of 2004, was driven by Ron Pierce to his NJSS victory for trainer Ed Hart and co-owners Jeffrey Snyder and Arlene and Jules Siegel.
Rocknroll Hanover, runner-up for that award, was piloted by Brian Sears in winning his NJSS heat for trainer Brett Pelling and co-owners Snyder and Lothlorien Equestrian Center.