Kiwi-bred blazes home to win Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace

NZB Standardbred graduate Blazing Home (NZ) (Rock N Roll Heaven) is continuing to excel in North America and last Saturday added the Grade 2 Joe Gerrity Jr. Memorial Pace (1609m) at Saratoga Casino Hotel to his harness racing record.

Trainer-driver Larry Stalbaum launched Blazing Home off the gate in search of the lead, however, there was plenty of speed inside him and he was forced to ease back and settled three back.

Stalbaum wasn’t content and quickly sent his charge forward to wrestle the lead off stablemate Mr Mclaren. With a lap to go, Mr Mclaren began to concede ground sharply, eventually being pulled up, and Blazing Home shot clear of the rest of the pack, who began to string out.

Blazing Home maintained a two-length advantage before his challengers began to close late down the home straight, but he was able to see them off to beat Binge On Yankee, with Full Metal Jacket in third.

BLAZING HOME N REPLAY

Stalbaum had mixed feelings about the race, given the contrasting fortunes of his two runners, but he was pleased to take out the Saratoga feature.

“It went nowhere like I thought, but it ended up working out,” Stalbaum told Jessica Hallett. “It meant everything, I really wanted to win this race.”

While successful on the track, Stalbaum said Blazing Home is a laidback individual around the stable.

“He is just a big baby, he sleeps all day,” he said.

Bred by Michele Carson, Blazing Home is by Rock N Roll Heaven and out of unraced Bettor’s Delight mare Capture My Heart, a sister to Group One winner Texican.

Capture My Heart is also the dam of Trump Card, who extended his career record to seven wins when victorious a day prior at Addington Raceway for trainers Hayden and Amanda Cullen.

Carson offered Blazing Home for sale at the 2021 NZB Standardbred National Yearling Sale at Karaka where he was purchased by Matthew Bowden for $22,000.

He was on sold to Phil and Glenys Kennard later that year and he was entrusted to the care of Auckland trainer Brent Mangos, for whom he won his sole workout in New Zealand before being sold offshore.

Blazing Home’s victory last week brought his season tally to nine wins and more than US$223,000 in prizemoney, with his overall career earnings now north of US$631,000.

Vendor	M. Carson
Purchaser	Mr MD Bowden
Owner(s)	Larry D Stalbaum
Breeding	Rock N Roll Heaven – Capture My Heart
Sale	2021 National Standardbred Yearling Sale, Karaka ($22,000)
Breeder(s)	Mrs M Carson

From NZB Standardbred