STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33

Manalapan, NJ 07726

Phone: 732-462-2357

Fax: 732-409-0741

STANDARDBRED BREEDERS & OWNERS ASSOCIATION OF NEW JERSEY

Representing the drivers, trainers, caretakers, breeders and owners of New Jersey

64 Business Route 33, Manalapan, NJ 07726 

Phone: 732-462-2357 | Fax: 732-409-0741

BACK

‘ROCKET’ BLASTS FOES AT BIG M

‘ROCKET’ BLASTS FOES AT BIG M • March 16, 2025

Conventional harness racing wisdom tells us that when a horse is moving well unpressured on the lead in a short field, it should be a done deal that’s the winner ...

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- March 15, 2025 -- Conventional harness racing wisdom tells us that when a horse is moving well unpressured on the lead in a short field, it should be a done deal that’s the winner.


So, you could say that Rocket Man Hill’s victory in the Saturday night feature at The Meadowlands, a $17,500 high-end conditioned trot, was anything but conventional.


Making his fourth start of 2025 – all at The Big M – Rocket Man Hill displayed explosive late trot to win for the second time this season (he was second in the other two), and in the process, lowered his lifetime best to 1:54.

“The connections are very happy with him,” said winning trainer Mike Russo of the 4-year-old gelded son of Muscle Hill-Drinking Class, who was acquired after his win on Feb. 28.


With a second in his first start for his new owner and trainer and a win Saturday, the early returns have been good.

The original field of eight was reduced to five after scratches, one of which was Rock My Universe, who would have been gunning for a fourth consecutive Meadowlands win. Finite, the 8-5 second choice, took full advantage of the rail and led the quintet past the quarter in :27.2 and the half in :56.1.


Just before the five-eighths, 6-5 public choice Luke’s Bar, looking for his third victory in four tries, vacated the four-hole and went up after the leader on the rim uncovered, providing a live tow for Rocket Man Hill as Finite hit three-quarters in 1:25.1.


At the head of the stretch, Rocket Man Hill swung widest of all, and fired home through the lane, catching Finite nearing the wire, besting that one by a half-length. Luke’s Bar settled for third.


“The fractions were hot for this group,” said winning driver Brett Beckwith. “Honestly, I didn’t know how it would play out. He trotted a good last quarter so I have no complaints. It was my first time driving this horse but Russo gave me great info.”


“We had very dull cover, so he did well to trot home a winner,” said Russo. “He’ll have next week off and come back the following week.”


As the 5-2 third choice, Rocket Man Hill returned $7.40 to his backers. He now has four wins from 23 lifetime starts for owner Rose Colangelo.


PICK-6 REPORT: A carryover of $3,795 motivated players to put $21,779 of “new money” into the 20-cent Pick-6 pool for a grand total of $25,574. After a sequence that saw winner’s odds of 8-1, 5-2, 5-2, 6-1, 4-5 and 2-1, those with winning tickets cashed in for $3,141.96.


A LITTLE MORE: The top three drivers in the Big M standings all won three times on the program. Beckwith leads the way thus far in 2025 with 41 wins, followed by Jason Bartlett (37) and Dave Miller (33). … All-source handle totaled $3,067,122 on the 14-race card. … Racing resumes Friday at 6:20 p.m.

By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations June 1, 2025
In what could be characterized as the most dominant performance of the year in the weekly pacing feature, Maximus Miki destroyed his foes with a wicked front-end speed mile at The Meadowlands Saturday night in the marquee $27,500 event for open pacers ...
By Dave Little, Meadowlands Media Relations May 31, 2025
Even at the age of 7, the talented Lexus Kody continues to evolve, and the Ron Burke trainee kept the good times going Friday night at The Meadowlands in the $27,500 featured Open Handicap for trotters, taking a second straight weekly marquee event ...
By Karen Fagliarone May 29, 2025
Magical Acres will be hosting qualifiers/2-year-old races on Thursday (June 19 and 26) ...
By Meadowlands Media Relations May 29, 2025
Noel Daley is a busy man ...
By Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager May 29, 2025
Greg Luther wasn’t necessarily counting down the days until Amazing Catch’s first race of this season, but he is happy his trotter’s 2025 debut is nearly here ...
By The Harness Horse Youth Foundation May 28, 2025
The Harness Horse Youth Foundation is pleased to announce Fair Winds Farm, owned by Mark Mullen, as the 2025 Service To Youth honoree ...
More Posts