Miami Valley: Little Rocket Man upsets in Pacey Mindlin Memorial

Little Rocket Man, sent off at odds of 12-1, rallied off a third-over trip to win the inagural $100,000 Pacey Mindlin Memorial Invitational on Saturday afternoon at Miami Valley Raceway in 1:49 3/5.

Starting from the outside post eight, Little Rocket Man, driven by John De Long, elected to stay two-wide, as did Hemsworth N (Brett Miller), and they would flush out Idealsomemagic A (Trace Tetrick) past the 26 1/5 quarter that was set by 4-5 favorite Ruthless Hanover (George Napolitano Jr.).

Ruthless Hanover backed down the half to just 55 1/5, but then Napolitano Jr. had to pick the tempo up as Idealsomemagic A began to loom going towards three-quarters, which Ruthless Hanover blitzed through in 1:21 3/5. On the final bend, Ruthless Hanover continued to fend off Idealsomemagic A as Miller fanned out three-wide with Hemsworth N and De Long put Little Rocket Man in motion four-wide.

In the stretch Ruthless Hanover responded to Napolitano Jr.'s asking and looked like he might be on his way to victory, but Little Rocket Man charged all the way to the wire and was able to get up late to prevail by a head over This Is The Plan (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), who tucked in fourth early, was shuffled on the cones, and then surged to Little Rocket Man's outside through the lane. Ruthless Hanover, Hemsworth N, and Bernie (Kurt Sugg) completed the top five.

Ken Rucker trains Little Rocket Man, a 7-year-old gelding by Rockin Image, for owners Russell Beeman and Jack Freeman. This was his 43rd career victory, and he has now pocketed $796,249. He paid $26.60 to win.

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On the undercard of the Mindlin Memorial was the first round of the Ohio Sires Stakes for 3-year-olds of both sexes and gaits. Rose Run Yolanda (Brett Miller), a trotting daughter of Triumphant Caviar trained by Todd Luther for owner Greg Luther, and Hey Hey Mama (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.), a Downbytheseaside filly pacer trained by Brian Brown for owners Country Club Acres Inc, Milton Leeman, Joe Sbrocco, and Acadia Farms Inc. stole the show as they turned in track record clockings of 1:53 2/5 and 1:50 2/5, respectively.

Trainer Ron Burke sent out two winners in the sires stakes, taking a filly trot with Rose Run Yanae (by Triumphant Caviar and driven by Chris Page) in 1:55 3/5 for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Hatfield Stables, Knox Services Inc., and Weaver Bruscemi LLC., and a colt and gelding pace with Wicked Character (by Yankee Cruiser and driven by Tony Hall) in 1:51 3/5 for owners Mark Adams, Timothy Sullivan, Robert Jackson, and Tom Wilson.

The remainder of the sires stakes victors were:

--Dragon By The Sea (a pacing filly by Downbytheseaside) in 1:52 1/5 for driver Tyler Smith, trainer Jeff Smith, and owner John Van Horn

--Rumble Strips (a trotting colt by Long Tom) in 1:54 1/5 for driver Kayne Kauffman, trainer Mike Polhamus, and owners Constance Polhamus and Mary Beth Walters

--Jet Hill (a trotting gelding by What The Hill) in 1:54 2/5 for driver Kurt Sugg, trainer Ed Miller, and owner Serenity Racing Stables

--For Once Inmy Life (a pacing colt by Downbytheseaside) in 1:50 1/5 for driver Brett Miller, trainer Noel Daley, co-owner/breeder Joe Sbrocco, and co-owners Country Club Acres Inc., John Fodera, and Steve Wienick Racing LLC.