It’s only fitting that one of the greatest brood mares in Indiana was honored with a win from one of her foals on Mother’s Day Sunday, May 8 at Tioga Downs. Indiana sired Lori’s Rock Star, a son of Skyway Lori, and Wally Hennessey scored a win in the first race of the day to kick off the second day of racing at Tioga in 2022.
Lori’s Rock Star, a younger full brother to Freaky Feet Pete, was a winner for Wally Hennessey at Tioga Downs Sunday, May 8.
Starting from post one, Lori’s Rock Star had the speed to get to the lead but Art Nukem and Corey Braden took over early, placing Lori’s Rock Star at their heels heading into the first turn. The pace was swift but with Hennessey placing Lori’s Rock Star in the pocket, the eight-year-old gelding got rough and went off stride for a few steps before settling back in. From there Hennessey had a strong hold on the gelding as Art Nukem set fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.4.
In the final turn, Hennessey moved Lori’s Rock Star to the outside and the gelding took off, rolling around Art Nukem with ease and scoring the win by two and one-quarter lengths. Art Nukem was an easy second over Pompano Beach and Michael Merton for third.
Lori’s Rock Star paid $4.90 for the win. The Rockin Image son is owned by Jim McDonald, Dan Boddie and Jacalyn Boddie. Jim McDonald trains the gelding, who was bred by the late Larry Rheinheimer.
Although Lori’s Rock Star is a six-figure winner with a mark of 1:52.2, he is not the star of the family. He is a younger full brother to the Breeders Crown winner Freaky Feet Pete, who retired with a mark of 1:47.1 and more than $1.6 million in earnings. Skyway Lori has had 11 foals over the span of 11 years. Each foal has raced and taken marks with eight of them holding career records of 1:53 or faster. Also, eight of her foals have in excess of $100,000 in earnings.
Lori’s Rock Star has been with his current connections since last fall. He was claimed by them in August and then claimed back in September. He raced for the Rheinheimer family in Indiana through 2018 before leaving the state of Indiana. He spent a lot of his career on the Canadian circuit.
In addition to Lori’s Rock Star, there were two other Indiana winners on the Sunday card at Tioga. Fritzie Pic Up Man, an 11-year-old son of Always A Virgin, was a winner for owner-trainer Gaston Lareau. Michael Merton drove the gelding to a nine-length win in 1:55.0.
Also a winner on the card was Indiana sired trotter Lightfootedlegend, a seven-year-old son of Mr Cantab. Driven by Daryl Thiessen, Lightfootedlegend moved to the lead before the three-quarter mile marker and pulled away for a three-length win in 1:56.2. David Linker owns the gelding, who was bred by Richard Fry. Dale Gilmour trains the trotter, who now has 17 career wins and earnings of more than 4143,000. His best time was taken last year at six at Tioga in 1:53.1.