On Tuesday, 26th March, Rocknroll Shelli and driver Jimmy Devaux secured a triumph in the feature race held at Saratoga Casino Hotel. The race was a fillies and mares conditioned-optional claiming pace with a purse amounting to £15,541.
Following the scratch of the morning line favourite, Storybook Bella, Rocknroll Shelli fortuitously obtained the inside position in the feature race. Although winless in seven starts this season, Rocknroll Shelli had previously secured three second-place finishes when competing against tougher opponents. Under the guidance of driver Jimmy Devaux, the 9-2 shot swiftly assumed control of the race and faced no opposition in the initial half, which was timed at :58.2. As the race progressed, longshot Truly (piloted by Billy Dobson) made a first-over move to challenge the leader, resulting in a fierce battle throughout the latter half of the mile. Ultimately, Rocknroll Shelli triumphantly crossed the finish line in 1:55.1, securing her first victory of the season. Truly, dismissed at odds of 19-1, settled for second place, while P L Princess C (driven by Brett Crawford) earned the third-place position.
In a mild upset, Rocknroll Shelli rewarded her backers with a payout of $11.40. Moreover, she played a significant role in the exacta, which returned $119.50, and the triple, which yielded $550. The successful six-year-old mare, sired by A Rocknroll Dance out of Shell I Attack, is owned by Chris Lawton and trained by Dale Lawton, both hailing from New York. With this recent victory, Rocknroll Shelli has accumulated a total of twelve wins and nearly $145,000 in career earnings.
Tuesday proved to be an exceptional day for driver Jimmy Devaux as he achieved a driving grand slam, winning four races in total. As a seasoned reinsman and the reigning champion for three consecutive driving titles leading up to the 2024 season, Devaux showcased his skill by guiding not only Rocknroll Shelli to victory but also pacing mares Flames Of Fire, Hey Hey Dbay, and Dancethebigdance N to triumphs throughout the 13-race card.
After a brief hiatus, live harness racing will resume at Saratoga on Saturday evening, with the first post time scheduled for 5 p.m.