Driver Dan Shetler and Rocket Fuel turned in the fastest mile of the season thus far in the $25,000 Invitational Pace. The field of eight roared to the finish over a sloppy surface in a time of 1:51.2, giving Rocket Fuel his first win of the season in six outings.
Starting from post five, Rocket Fuel rocketed out for the early lead, keeping up a lively tempo of :26.1 and :56.0 before seeing competition on the outside. Around the final turn the field began to bunch up, giving Royalton Star and Andy Shetler the first spot on the outside for the attack in the stretch.
However, Rocket Fuel would not relinquish his lead. Passing by the three-quarter-mile marker in 1:24.3, the five-year-old son of Dontgetinmyway didn’t shorten his stride, digging in for a final panel in :26.4 to outlast Royalton Star to the wire by a neck. The duo finished another neck in front of Biletnikoff and Peter Wrenn, who finished third.
Rocket Fuel now has 16 career wins in 49 career starts for owner Twila Harts of Amboy, Ind. Alvin Miller trains the Indiana-sired gelding who now possesses nearly $300,000 in career earnings.
In the top trotting event of the week, ABC Mercedes gave driver Mark O’Mara one of four wins on the racing program, redeeming himself after a break knocked him out of the action in the previous week’s event. Starting from the second tier post 10, ABC Mercedes had to follow as Miss DW Chip and Trace Tetrick led the way through fractions of :27.2, :58.2, and 1:28.1.
In the stretch, ABC Mercedes was out and on cruise control, pushing forward and enduring the journey to the end, posting a time of 1:56.0. Miss DW Chip was less than two lengths back in second while Blowlowsanta and Elliott Deaton stayed close for third.
ABC Mercedes is owned by Larry Miller of Springport, Ind. Joe Putnam trains the four-year-old gelded son of ABC Garland. He now has more than $300,000 in career earnings and two wins in four starts for 2009.
(Hoosier Park)