by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway

Ft. Washington, MD — Sparky Mark became the fifth horse in Rosecroft history to pace a sub-1:50 effort in winning Tuesday night’s (April 19) $12,000 Open Handicap Pace.

The 9-year-old son of Astreos sat third for Jonathan Roberts while Hot Art (Jason Thompson) cut fractions of :26 and :53.4. Roberts then launched the Dylan Davis trainee and he sprinted to the lead and drew off by four lengths to best Jet Blue Miracle (Sean Bier) and Fancy Colt (Tony Morgan) in 1:49.4.

Sparky Mark is owned by Foulk Stables Inc. and won for the third time in 13 starts this year.

Track record holder Nuclear Breeze, Jenna’s Beach Boy, Adventure Bound and Shady Breeze are the others to score sub-1:50 miles at Rosecroft.

Tony Morgan, Pat Berry and Frank Milby had driving doubles on the card.