from Meadowlands Publicity Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Rock N Soul got up in the final strides to take the first of two divisions of the $157,750 Countess Adios for freshman pacing fillies Thursday night at the Meadowlands.

Lisa Photo

Rock N Soul made a late rally to take the 1st division in 1:53.4.

With driver George Brennan at the lines, Rock N Soul [$29.80, $13.40, $10.80] sat fourth on the rail, angled out at the top of the stretch and made a late rally to take the sixth race of the night in 1:53.4. Fraction setting It’s De Lovely [$6.40, $4.00] finished 2-lengths behind for second and By Your Side [$7.80] finished third.

“I tried not to rough her up too hard,” Brennan said after the race. “It couldn’t have worked out any better. She paced home real hard. They are no brainers, the Rocknrolls.”

This is the first win in two lifetimes starts for the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Artchitecture. Mark Harder trains and co-owns Rock N Roll Soul along with Sibling Stable and Stable 45.

BJ’s Canounan moved to the lead right before the half and held off the late rally of the pocket sitting Western Moonlight [$6.20, $3.00, $2.60] to score in the second division of the Countess Adios [$3.60, $2.80] in 1:54. She’s On The Level finished [$10.40] third. Brian Sears drove the Ross Croghan trainee. The daughter of Western Ideal-Rich N Elegant is owned by Brian Nixon.