Fort Washington, MD — Todd Tribbett’s Layton Hanover sat off a contested pace early and struck the front late en route to a 1:52.2 victory in Monday’s (Sept. 14) $13,000 Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway.
With Jonathan Roberts at the controls for trainer William Andrews, the 7-year-old Captaintreacherous-Livin Life gelding secured the pocket behind long shots Reactor Now A (driven by Billy Carter) and Brooksforreal (Justin Vincent) as they dueled through a :55 first half mile. As Brooksforreal tired up the backstretch, Don’tmesswithles (Roger Plante Jr.) launched a three-wide blitz off stalling second-over cover and opened a 3-length advantage just past the 1:23.1 three-quarters. Layton Hanover split foes to escape a failing pocket midway around the far turn, and he lifted to nab Don’tmesswithles in the final 70 yards before extending his margin of victory to a length. Top Genius (Frank Milby), who was mired in traffic near the back of the field, split foes in upper stretch and rallied for third, 3-1/4 lengths farther behind.
Sent off the 9-5 favorite, Layton Hanover recorded the 29th victory of his career and his sixth of the season. He paid $5.60 to win.
In the sub-featured $9,250 top-level conditioned pace, Spring Blake was defeated in his Rosecroft return after being overpowered by victorious newcomer Tignanello and William Carter in a protracted backstretch duel on their way to a 1:53.4 score.
Spring Blake, who was sent off the 3-5 public choice and got away fourth on the first turn, brushed to the fore just past a :27 quarter before the yielding Tignanello reemerged past the :56.4 half. Tignanello stuck his head in front midway up the backstretch and resolutely held off an extended bid from runner-up Miki Is All In (Christian Myers) — who was flushed first-over with a lap to go and worked to chase the winner’s cover up the backstretch — by a half-length. Spring Blake finished a beaten third.
Jamie Bozman trains Tignanello, who paid $6.60 to win as the 2-1 second choice, for owner Alexander Collins Jr.
William Carter led all drivers with three wins on the 13-race card.
Live harness racing at Rosecroft resumes Thursday (Sept. 17); first post for the 13-race program is 7:15 p.m. (EDT). For more information, visit www.rosecroftraceway.com.