Fort Washington, MD – Megan Roberts and Graham Grace Stables’ Judge Bob decisively parried a head-stretch challenge from 4-5 favorite Dowedealinandwhy to capture Thursday’s (March 5) co-featured $10,000 upper-level conditioned trot at Rosecroft Raceway and give driver Jonathan Roberts the first of his four driving wins on the 13-race harness racing program.
The 11-year-old Great George Two-Endorphan Annie gelding strode to a clear lead over R Hot Toddy (driven by Eric Davis) through a :28 first quarter before coasting unopposed through the half in :58.1. Up the backstretch and through the far turn, Judge Bob faced a sustained first-over attack from Dowedealinandwhy (Jared Moyer), who forced a :28.3 third quarter, and he kept that rival 1-3/4 lengths at bay to score his third consecutive win and the 53rd of his career. Crossfit Mouse (Corey Braden) rallied belatedly to just miss the runner-up spot.
William “Bib” Roberts trains Judge Bob, who paid $6 to win as the 2-1 second choice.
Jonathan Roberts’ other wins came with Michael Hall trainees Yall Just Love Me (1:57.1, $3.20) and She B Minnie (1:54.2, $2.20), and Brian Burton trainee Stress Free (1:56.1, $4.20).
UP FROM THE ASHES: Phoenix Rising made a sustained push forward from post 9 to clear the lead with a lap to go en route to a 7-1 upset in the $10,000 top-level distaff pace. Corey Braden drove the Franklin Gannon III trainee, who paid $17.20 to win, to a 2-length, 1:53.3 score over Bluebird Ina.
IT PAYS TO PLAY: Through the first six weeks of the winter-spring meet, Rosecroft Raceway has become a “diamond in the rough” for punters, with an industry-low 37.4% strike rate for favorites this year and an average field size of 8.47.
Thursday’s late 50-cent Pick-4 returned $643.20 — the seventh instance of a “signer” in the 23 occasions the wager has been hit so far this meet — on the 7/2,3/2/3 combination. The median Pick-4 dividend to date this season is $217.50.
The Jackpot Hi-5 carryover continues to build after Phoenix Rising keyed a 9-5-7-3-1 combination that returned $391.45 to multiple players. The carryover to Monday’s (March 8) Hi-5 now stands at $30,456.21.
Live racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday; first post is 7:15 p.m. (EDT).