Last Thursday evening Rosecroft Raceway put the finishing touches on a busy month of March with another stellar card that featured a bevy of superb efforts from equine and human participants alike.
In the featured $12,000 Maryland Open last Thursday, Fantastic Voyage (Jared Moyer) benefited from a second over trip behind Sea Of Life down the backside then overhauled that one late for a head score in 1:50.3. A 7-year-old Cool Flying Fun stallion trained by Deshawn Sample for owner-breeder Dawn Amiss, Fantastic Voyage notched his second win from five seasonal tries and now sports 27 wins and nearly $220,000 banked from 111 career outings.
Several races earlier in the Thursday opener, Rocket Mac (Trae Porter) forged a mild upset when he rallied from well off the pace and widest of all to nail favored Precision Bluechip late in 1:54.4. A 5-year-old Captaintrecherous gelding owned and trained by Steve Wetzel, Rocket Mac notched his third win in 11 seasonal tries and now owns 18 victories and nearly $125,000 from 78 career outings.
Two nights earlier on the evening when he was recognized as the top amateur driver in North America in 2023, Newton "Yogi" Sheridan captured both halves of the split Mid-Atlantic Amateur Club events at the track. Sheridan, who won 55 races in 2023, guided Freddy Faves to a five-length score as the 4-5 favorite in 1:55.3 then later steered Fred's Night to a length tally as the 6-5 choice in 1:55.2.
One week earlier in the featured $12,000 Open event, Tom's Twilight (Frank Milby) forged a 6-1 upset when he rallied from well off the pace and closed willingly down the center of the track to score in 1:51.3. An 8-year-old Sweet Lou gelding trained by Roger Hans for owner Thomas Cooke, Tom's Twilight notched his second straight score in the top class and joined the discussion for spring horse of the meet.
Two races earlier in the $10,000 Maryland Junior Open, Nuttin But Finesse (Johnathan Anhle) lived up to his role as the 1-5 favorite when he overcame an extedned first over journey, wore down Nome Hanover then outlasted the late bids of Fantastic Voyage and Precision Bluechip for a nose victory in a four-way photo in 1:52.3.
A six-year-old Art Major stallion trained by Michael Hall for owners Sarah MacMillan and William "Mac" MacMillan, Nuttin But Finesse recorded his fifth win in 11 starts this year and now owns a 27-12-18 slate and nearly $275,000 banked from 96 career tries. Fantastic Voyage had trounced conditioned foes in his previous outing and looks destined for the top Open at this meet.
Also on the March 21 card, there were a trio of races early on the program that were named in honor of groups or individuals and the last one in the group produced the biggest surprise. After favorites won the first two events, Make Mine Malibu (Jared Moyer) rallied from well off the pace to forge a 30-1 shocker in the Dorothy Troutman Memorial in 1:57.
Back on the first Thursday card of month on March 7, there were several impressive performances delivered by horses and drivers alike. Catch drivers Jonathan Roberts and Johnathan Ahle dominated the proceedings with Roberts winning six races including scores with Lyons Surfing, Starship and the featured Maryland Open with Mach Le More A.
Arguably the most impressive effort of the night from an equine perspective was delivered by Itsallaboutfaith N (Ahle) when he overcame post eight to gain command in a 25.4 opener, carved out honest fractions on an uncontested lead then rebuffed Marco Beach for a two-length score in 1:51 in the $10,000 Junior Open. It was his second straight win over the strip for trainer Mike Hall and third win in six seasonal tries.
After being fed a steady diet of overnight races during the first three months of the year, Rosecroft will offer its first stakes races on the calendar later this month when it hosts both the Maryland Sire Stakes for 4- and 5-year-old pacers and trotters on April 23 with the opening round of MDSS elims for 3-year-olds one week later on April 30.
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