Photo of Rockin Pet and Kiwon Waldron by Dean Gillette
Rockin Pet and Kiwon Waldron scored their second straight win Tuesday, August 18 in the $9,200 Two-Year-Old Conditioned Claiming event at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. The Indiana sired pacer fought hard all the way down the stretch to score the win in 1:55.4.
Rockin Pet began from post six and was on the gate and ready to go when the wings opened. He left the gate but didn’t want the front end and got in behind Float Show and Brandon Bates seeking a spot near the front. Float Show went onto the lead and Rockin Pet was able to squeeze in behind Brutally Frank and Jordan Ross in the three hole. The first quarter was clocked in :28.4 with the field staying in single file through the half in :59.1.
Brutally Frank tried to move out to press Float Show, but he picked up the pace around the final turn and continued to lead the way. The top two were more than three lengths ahead of Rockin Pet, who was saving ground along the inside.
In the lane, Float Show began to come back to the rest of the field. Waldron was able to squeeze Rockin Pet between horses and got to the wire first in a three-way photo, winning by a neck over Dancin Differently and Cristian Pacheco, who closed on the outside for second. Brutally Frank was another neck back in third on the inside.
Rockin Pet paid $5.00 for the win. The son of Pet Rock, and part of the sire’s first Indiana crop after a successful career in Ohio, is owned by W & W Farms and Ricky Macomber Jr., who also trains. John Miller bred and raised the gelding, who is now two for four in his brief career.
Rockin Pet’s best career time was recorded in his previous outing in a time of 1:55.1 the week before. He was part of the Wittmer Standardbreds consignment last fall in the Midwest Standardbred Horse Sale and was purchased for $5,000. He is the first foal of the Bettor’s Delight mare Persistant Xample, a winner in 1:53 with $117,000 on her card. She has a yearling filly this year by JK Endofanera named JKs Example.
In the filly division of the conditioned claimer, it was two-year-old Loveme or Leaveme and Daryl Bontrager who earned the win, leading the field gate to wire in 1:55.3. The Best in Show filly paced home in :28.4 for the one and one-half length advantage over Tellmefirst and Travis Seekman. Blue Balou and John DeLong finished third.
Loveme Or Leaveme paid $13.60 for the win. She is a homebred owned and bred by Ira Steinberg. It was the seventh start for the filly and her first career win.
