by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway
Ft. Washington, MD — Pat Berry and Jonathan Roberts dominated opening night at Rosecroft Raceway on Tuesday (March 8), combining for seven wins on the 12-race card.
Berry and Roberts combined for a dead-heat win in race 10, featuring Acardi and Simon’s Artist. Both horses notched career win 25 in the 1:52.2 mile.
The $12,000 Open Handicap Pace went to Hot Art, who got a patient drive from Jason Thompson, nailing Vapour N (Berry) who had taken a brief lead in the stretch as pacesetter Dinner At The Met faltered after pacing a :27.3 third quarter.
Hot Art is a homebred of the Baxter Stables and trainer John Baxter. The 7-year-old son of Art Major won nine times in 2015 and with this win boosted his lifetime earnings to $135,241. The time of the mile was 1:51.3.
Thompson and Russell Foster both won two races on the card.