by Mike Paradise, for the Illinois Harness Horsemen’s Association

Springfield, IL — Southern Rocketop established himself as a world record holder one year ago and on Saturday afternoon (August 15) returns to the track where he became the fastest 2-year-old gelding trotter of all time with a 1:54.1 clocking at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield.

In the past year a few things have changed for the gelded son of Physic Spirit owned by Powers Farms LLC of Winchester, Tennessee. As a freshman Southern Rocketop raced for the Monique Bernardi Stable. This season he’s conditioned by Tennessean Robert Taylor. And the talented trotter has gone even faster in his second season, winning Balmoral Park’s Cardinal Trot in a track record time of 1:52.2 for driver Brian Carpenter who also guided “The Rocket” most of last year including his record Springfield mile.

Balmoral Park photo

World champion Southern Rocketop has banked $262,661 in his career.

Southern Rocketop does come off a rare loss against Illinois bred competition when he was overtaken in deep stretch by the Homer Hochstetler Stable’s Dr McDreamy in the $50,000 Kadabra stake at Balmoral on August 2. It was only the second defeat of the season in eight starts for Southern Rocketop and the first against other state-breds. His first loss was a fourth place finish in the $289,884 Goodtimes Final at Mohawk Raceway in late June when “I had plenty of horse but nowhere to go,” explained driver Brian Carpenter.

The very quick Illinois bred trotter tests the Springfield one-mile clay oval Saturday afternoon in a prep event for the August 20 $50,000 Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes Final for sophomore trotting males, written because eliminations weren’t necessary. Awaiting Southern Rocketop are five state-bred foes including Dr McDreamy.

Southern Rocketop sprinted to a quick lead in the Kadabra final and cut brisk fractions of :27.4, :55.3, and 1:23.1 before fading to a :30.3 last quarter and giving way to Dr McDreamy.

“Southern Rocketop went some very stiff fractions on a night when the track really wasn’t that fast,” said trainer Robert Taylor. “In fact, when I warmed him up earlier I thought the track was a little cuppy.

“He still trotted a fast mile (1:53.4) and when I scoped him after the race he did come up a little sick. He’s fine now.

“Both the State Fair tracks are fast, especially Springfield. He had his record mile there as a 2-year-old so I expect him to race really well over that clay oval again. I’ll be changing his shoeing a little with the switch from limestone to clay. He won’t need to grip the track at Springfield as much as Balmoral’s limestone track.

“Some trainers going from limestone to clay even take off the back shoes and let their trotter race barefoot.”

Can the gelded son of Psychic Spirit better his 1:52.2 career best time?

“I don’t think we’ve got to the bottom with him yet,” answered Taylor. “After Springfield he’ll get another shot at the big boys. He’s going to Du Quoin for the World Trotting Derby.”

Southern Rocketop sports a two season record of 15 wins in 22 starts with two seconds and earnings of $262,661. His stakes triumphs as a freshman include Hawthorne’s $52,500 Maxter, the $50,000 Illinois State Fair (Springfield) Championship, and both the $120,000 Lincoln Land and $47,850 Cardinal Finals at Balmoral. This season he also breezed in Balmoral’s 3-year-old Cardinal championship, and a $39,900 Hanover stake, his first against open company trotters.

Editor’s Note: Mike Paradise writes a daily harness racing column for the IHHA at www.harnessillinois.com.