Harrah's Philadelphia: Rockeyed Optimist rolls in Great Northeast Open Series clash

Rockeyed Optimist ($5.20) proved strongest of all in Sunday afternoon's (July 1) featured $30,000 Great Northeast Open Series pacing event at Harrah's Philadelphia, using an extended first-over push to wear down Emeritus Maximus for a 1:49 2/5 score.

Brett Miller put the 7-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding in play from the far outside as the gates folded, and the pair were able to land in third behind the pace-setting pair of Emeritus Maximus (Andy Miller) and Sunfire Blue Chip (Andy McCarthy) through a blistering 26 second first quarter. On approach to the bridge turn, Rockeyed Optimist angled off the pegs and worked into a narrow second through a 54 3/5 half before turning up the pressure on the backstretch.

After Rockeyed Optimist forced a 26 3/5 third split, it appeared as though Emeritus Maximus would be able to parry his threat nearing head-stretch, but the longtime pace-setter was engulfed a sixteenth from home. Rockeyed Optimist surged to the fore in mid-stretch, holding off a late bid from pocket rival Sunfire Blue Chip by a length. Robbie Burns N (Corey Callahan) rallied down the grandstand to finish third.

Jake Leamon trains 32-time winner Rockeyed Optimist for the partnership of Anthony Perretti, Virginia Berkner, the A and B Stable and Joseph Battaglia.

--press release (Harrah's Philadelphia)--