Meadowlands: Michael's Victory surprises Boston Red Rocks; Blue Moon Stride impresses again

Michael's Victory pulled a 32-1 surprise on Boston Red Rocks, and Blue Moon Stride repeated in New Jersey Sire Stakes action for 3-year-old pacers on Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Boston Red Rocks (Tim Tetrick), sent off at 1-9 after a 1:50 3/5 win in the first round of the New Jersey Sire Stakes, was bothered by a break before the 26 4/5 opening quarter by Ideal Rocky (Corey Callahan), and ended up third and over six lengths behind leader Katies Rocker (Dave Miller).

Katies Rocker continued to show the way to the 55 second half, and the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters with Michael's Victory (Scott Zeron) in the pocket and Boston Red Rocks still in third on the rail, although he had closed the gap to just three lengths.

In the stretch Michael's Victory and Boston Red Rocks both angled out behind Katies Rocker, and Michael's Victory's 25 4/5 final quarter got him to the wire half a length to the good in 1:49 1/5. Katies Rocker held second ahead of Boston Red Rocks, who kicked home in 25 2/5.

The winner is a gelded son of Rocknroll Hanover trained by Mark Silva for owner/breeder Jeff Snyder of New York City. This was his third win in nine tries, and he has earned $42,700. He paid $66.80 to win.

Blue Moon Stride (Andrew McCarthy) had no such issues in her $25,000 contest, rolling to the top past the 27 2/5 opening quarter. She reached the half in 56 seconds, the three-quarters in 1:23 3/5, and then turned out the lights on her competition with a 26 4/5 final kicker, winning by around three lengths in 1:50 2/5. Show Time Hill (Tetrick) and JK Fannie (John Campbell) rounded out the top three.

Mark Harder trains Blue Moon Stride, a daughter of Rocknroll Hanover, for Australia's Emilio and Maria Rosati. This was her sixth victory from 16 attempts, and she has banked $314,862. Dispatched at 1-5, she returned $2.20.