Scioto: Pet Rock now fastest ever on a five-eighths track

Pet Rock showed up at Scioto Downs on Saturday night for the $125,000 Jim Ewart Memorial and put on a show. The 4-year-old posted the fastest ever mile on a five-eighths track.

Pet Rock blazed away from the gate and forced A Rocknroll Dance into the pocket past a sizzling 25-second opening quarter. From there we watched the pair speed around the track in single file though fractions of 52 4/5 and 1:20 1/5 before A Rocknroll Dance edged off the cones and took his shot in the stretch.

Pet Rock wasn’t entertaining any thoughts of a close photo as he paced away from A Rocknroll Dance for a convincing one and three-quarter length 1:47 2/5 victory.

Sweet Lou was third.

“The horse had been protected the last few starts. Virgil (Morgan, trainer) and I talked about it before the race and decided to give him a shot,” said driver Dan Noble on the decision to force A Rocknroll Dance into the pocket.

Pet Rock increased his bankroll to $621,008 with the win for owner Frank Bellino. He paid $4.20 to win.

Morgan confirmed Pet Rock will start next in the Winbak at the Delaware County Fairgrounds.