Macs Big Boy turns in quickest qualifier

Macs Big Boy, the veteran pacer who won 10 races for the Tyler George Stable last season, returned with an impressive qualifier Wednesday, March 16 for the quickest outing so far of 2022. The now five-year-old gelding crossed under the wire in 1:52.2.

Starting from post four, Mac’s Big Boy and Trace Tetrick rolled out to a quick lead with The Thunder Rolls and Joey Putnam sitting right at their backs through fractions of :27.4, :57.1, and 1:25.3. In the stretch, they both paced home in :26.4 with Mac’s Big Boy getting the advantage by two and one-quarter lengths over The Thunder Rolls. Crusher Q and LeWayne Miller finished third.

Mac’s Big Boy is owned by Carl Hambleton and Donald Fennell. Jeff Snyder of New York bred the Somebeachsomewhere son, who heads into the 2022 racing season with 15 wins and 10 seconds in 59 starts. His career bankroll is $273,000 with his career best time taken last year at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in 1:49.3 for George.

Another winner on the Wednesday qualifying card was Grace Rocks, owned by Howard Taylor. The five-year-old Rockin Image mare posted a gate to wire effort for Joey Putnam in 1:53.3 a final panel in :27.3. Threeofthebest A and Trace Tetrick finished second over Lou’s A Pansy and John DeLong for third.

Grace Rocks is trained by Britney Dillon and was bred by Victory Hill Farm. Taylor has owned her for the duration of her career and she now has more than $287,000 in earnings with 13 career wins as she returns for her 2022 campaign. Her career best time was taken as a three-year-old in 1:49.2 at Harrah’s Hoosier Park.

Grace Rocks has been impressive her entire career. As a two-year-old, she won six of nine starts with none of her 9 starts that year back of third. Taylor purchased her as a yearling from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale for $20,000. She was one of 77 sold at auction that year by Rockin Image and is part of the class of other standout performers such as Odds On Osiris, Priceless, Hoosier Celebrity and Pure Image.