Sams Triple Crown scores in Rosecroft feature

Ft. Washington, MD — When we last saw Sams Triple Crown, he won the Maryland Invite for $25,000 in his final start of 2018 at Rosecroft. It capped a nine-win season for the son of Art Official who banked $82,760 on the year for owner-trainer Jerry Nock.

Sunday night (Feb. 17), he made his 2019 debut in the $12,000 Open a winning one as John Wagner guided Sams Triple Crown through a gutty first over battle with pacesetter Hickory Aloha, eventually grinding him into submission and holding off Rock N’ Roll Jet in in 1:51.4. Lil Johnny finished third.

Wagner picked up a driving double as took the finale with In Record Time, holding off Three Rivers Dell by inches in 1:54.3. Hey Dali finished third. WG LLC owns the winner, while Michael Greene does the training.

Basil Sapienza had an owning and training double for the second straight Sunday as Diamondkeeper and Jack Quick got pictures taken. The latter made a three-wide brush down the backside for driver Jonathan Roberts and sprinted home the final quarter-mile, holding off Redwood Again who was huge first over, wearing down pacesetter BA Rocket, while Owens Spirit finished third.

Russell Foster escorted Diamondkeeper third over down the backside and eventually won in 1:53.4. It was one of three wins on the card for Foster. He scored a win in the sixth race with Concert Artist for owner-trainer Brian Tomlinson and the seventh race with Anderson Valley for trainer Greg Trotto, Fred Sporrer and Jeff Livingston.

Declan Donoway produced a driving double, as the 19-year-old provisional driver notched an 18-1 upset with BJ’s World for Dale Hall Jr. and trainer Brian Wright. Donoway won with 6-5 favorite Silver Bullet for Tom Mucci and trainer Brian Malone in the $10,000-$15,000 claiming handicap.

Roberts picked up a double as Carters Caper won in the $5,000 claimer for owner Chris Devine and trainer Jason Walters. It was a brief stay in the new barn as Carters Caper was claimed back by owner-trainer John Dixon. Wake Up And Go was also taken out of that race for $5,000 by Eric Foster Jr.

Roger Plante scored an upset in the featured trot with Third Coast for owner-trainer Kerry Welty. It was the first win of the year for the son of Jailhouse Jesse who followed his cover Overnight Shipper (Rob Hoffman) to the line for the win. Overnight Shipper was a tough luck second while Brilliance Hanover was third.

Sean Bier scored a trotting win with Uknow What To Do in 1:57 for R.J. Thomas. Eddie Davis Jr. won the $4,000 claimer with Hide Me Away for trainer Eric Davis and Joseph Hayes Jr. Trainer-driver Brian Burton picked up an easy win with Manattack, who he co-owns with Greg Dypsky.

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