Harrah’s Hoosier Park closed out its 27th season of racing Saturday, Dec. 4 with a plethora of series finals. The evening kicked off with the $27,000 Richard Taylor Memorial for Indiana sired horses with Luc Rocks and Ricky Macomber Jr. bringing home the title.
Luc Rocks and Ricky Macomber Jr. scored the title in the Richard Taylor Memorial on the closing night card at Harrah’s Hoosier Park. Photo by Dean Gillette
Luc Rocks used the inside post to his advantage early and got a seat in third behind early leaders JK’s Champ and Peter Wrenn and DD’s Big Joe and Trace Tetrick. As fractions of :26.3, :54.4 and 1:23.0 were being established, Luc Rocks waited patiently for his turn to shine.
In the stretch, Luc Rocks was out and rolling, pacing home in :27.2 for the win by three-quarters of a length over DD’s Big Joe. JK’s Champ finished third. The time of the mile was 1:51.1.
Luc Rocks paid $13.40 for the win. The three-year-old Rockin Image gelding is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, and Weaver Bruscemi. Luckiana Farm bred the gelding, who is trained by Ron Burke.
It was the fourth win of the year for Luc Rocks, who was lightly raced last year at two before beginning his racing career this season. The win in the Taylor Memorial marked a new career best for the sophomore, who now has in excess of $50,000 in earnings. Luc Rocks was purchased under the name My Golden One for $42,000 from the Hoosier Classic Yearling Sale. He is the latest foal from My Taylor’s Maid, who is the dam of Matrix of Luck, a full brother with earnings of more than $400,000 and a mark of 1:50.3.
Later on in the evening, a race for older pacing mares was held in honor of Carl Becker, who passed away earlier in the week. Becker, longtime announcer and sales and breeding expert, was honored with the $22,000 Carl Becker Memorial. Rockin Nola and Joey Putnam turned in another stellar performance to cap off a spectacular year of racing with the near gate to wire win in 1:51.2. Rose Run Vision and Ricky Macomber Jr. finished second over Alexa Skye and Sam Widger for third.
Rockin Nola is owned by JP Racing LLC and Suttons Bay Racing. The five-year-old Rockin Image mare now has 12 wins in 24 starts for 2021. Her career best time of 1:48.4 was taken earlier in the year and she now has more than $764,000 in career earnings. The Joe Putnam trained mare has won 33 races total during her career.