Hoosier Park: Rock N' Roll World wins at first asking for new connections

Rock N’ Roll World, with driver John DeLong in the bike, made an emphatic debut at Hoosier Park Racing & Casino on Friday, May 12, winning the featured event of the evening, a $21,000 Invitational Pace in 1:48 3/5, and in doing so, recorded the nation’s fastest mile of 2017.

After fetching a cool $165,000 final bid at the Tattersalls 2017 Spring Mixed Sale at The Meadowlands just five days ago, Rock N’ Roll World is already making good on the investment for new owners Tom Pollack and Jeff Cullipher.

Leaving from post seven, DeLong sent Rock N’ Roll World away from the gate firing to grab a pocket seat behind the overwhelming favorite, Night Pro and Sam Widger. Night Pro dictated fractions of 26 and 54 2/5 while the field remained in a single-file line down the backside. New Talent and Todd Warren were the first to commit to the outer flow as the field approached the final turn.

Night Pro continued to call the shots through the three-quarter clocking in 1:22 1/5, but Rock N’ Roll World loomed large in the pocket. Utilizing a 26 second final quarter, Rock N’ Roll World exploded past Night Pro late in the lane and went on to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Night Pro maintained his position to secure second-place honors, while Gerries Sport and Trace Tetrick rallied gamely to round out the trifecta.

Slightly dismissed at the betting windows, Rock N’ Roll World returned $16.60 to his backers.

“That one had me shaking a little bit,” trainer Jeff Cullipher noted in the winner’s circle. “He’s a very nice horse. I don’t know if I expected that much out of him in his first start for us, but he’s staked to quite a bit of things this year, so we’re really excited about him.”

A regally-bred 5-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Worldly Beauty, Rock N’ Roll World recorded his fourth consecutive victory and has now won five of six seasonal starts. With the 1:48 3/5 victory, Rock N’ Roll World shaved two seconds off his lifetime record while pushing his lifetime bankroll to $583,160.

--press release (Hoosier Park)--