A Rocknroll Dance led a parade of stakes favorites at Chester

A quartet of stakes for 2-year-olds was contested at Harrah’s Chester on Sunday afternoon and in each event the logical rookie came home with top honors.

The featured race on the 14-race card was the $510,000 Governor’s Cup for colt and gelding pacers. The public sent A Rocknroll Dance off as the 1-5 choice and he certainly did not disappoint, easily wiring the field in 1:51.

A handful of competitors left strong away from the gate and took their shot at the early lead. When the dust settled A Rocknroll Dance had command past a :26.3 opening quarter, with Speed Again, Mybrothergeorge and Escape The News following along on the pylons.

A Rocknroll Dance continued to post honest fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.3 while facing only shadow pressure from Escape The News, who could not get to the leader. At the head of the lane, A Rocknroll Dance scooted away from the field as Speed Again hopelessly chased from the pocket for second money.

“I thought it was a two-horse race (with Speed Again) and when he landed on my back I was pretty happy about that,” winning driver Yannick Gingras said. “I knew I was going to have an easy middle half because there was no one else that could take a shot at me. It was easy from there. He just coasted to the wire.

“From the trip we got it was really a walk in the park. This horse is a great horse and he proved it again today.”

The victory was the seventh on the year for the Jim Mulinix co-owned and trained colt by Rocknroll Hanover-Wichita Hanover. He is also owned by Denny Miller, Jerry Silva and Teresa Gentry.

A Rocknroll Dance became the richest 2-year-old pacing colt of 2011 with the win. He has now earned $863,325 in his first year of racing and will likely battle with Sweet Lou ($686,647) for divisional year-end honors.

The stakes action began with the $410,000 Valley Victory for first-year colt and gelding trotters. The non-wagering event proved to be a walk in the park for Possess The Will.

The son of Donato Hanover brushed to the front at the second call and won by 3 ¾ lengths in 1:56.

“He’s a very nice colt,” driver Tim Tetrick said. “He’s very smart and drives like a car. Every week he’s gotten better and better. (Trainer) Jim’s (Campbell) done a great job. He won that real easy today.

“I just didn’t want to make a mistake. I thought he could win either way, on the front or first up. Nothing really bothers this horse. I just wanted to get away clean and then move him if they went too slow or sit back. He’s very versatile that way.”

Possess The Will scored his seventh win of the year for owner Fashion Farms LLC and increased his career bankroll to $550,789.

In the $365,000 Goldsmith Maid for trotting fillies, it was Win Missy B who took advantage of the absence of divisional leader Check Me Out (won Matron at Dover on Saturday) by taking the field down the road in 1:55.1.

Win Missy B rated a soft :57.4 half mile and cruised around the track with no pressure during her track record performance over Superstar Hanover and Lady Andi.

“She has a lot of speed,” driver Brian Sears said. “I wanted to control the race and have everybody fall in where they may. I definitely wanted to cut it.

“She’s a very talented filly. We’ve been racing against Check Me Out all year, bumping heads with her, and she’s an awesome filly, but this is a very talented filly too.”

It was win number eight on the season for Win Missy B, who increased owner Robert Key’s checkbook by $182,500 with the win. The filly has now earned $731,175 in 2011.

The $380,000 Three Diamonds proved to be another chance for the favorites to flex their muscles. The 4-5 choice Economy Terror brushed to the front and never looked back to beat second and third choices Handsoffmycookie and Pirouette Hanover in world record time.

Economy Terror made her move to the front just past the quarter marker in 27 seconds. At the half in :56.1, Handsoffmycookie was the first to pull and made a first-over bid but proved 1 ¼ lengths worse than the winner at the wire in 1:50.3.

“This was one of the best performances of the year,” said driver Sears. “I was just amazed with her desire. She’s got a great attitude and just wants to do her work. You can’t ask for anything more. It’s not a spectacular day, kind of cool and windy, so that’s a big mile.”

Economy Terror has now banked $926,520 for owners Chuck Pompey, Howard Taylor and Edwin Gold. The rookie pacing filly, who appears likely to receive a divisional trophy for her achievements, is trained by Chris Oakes.

- Quotes courtesy Harness Racing Communications