by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Jim’s Message ($3.80, $2.20, $2.20) was victorious again in the $10,000 Open Trot at Rosecroft Raceway on Tuesday, September 18, taking his third consecutive win at this level of competition.

The 6-year-old Carry The Message gelding grabbed the lead off of the gate from the inside post with Victor Kirby in the sulky. At the opening quarter in :28.4, Slate was in the mix from post position eight to battle for the top with John Wagner in the sulky. However, Kirby pulled Jim’s Message back out to retake the front with a confident move. Trained and owned by Jeff Long, Jim’s Message led the field through remaining fractions of :57.4 and 1:27.4, winning in 1:57.3.

Slate ($4.00, $2.60) held on for second after showing impressive gate speed. Trained by Manley Brown, Jr. for the Trick Pony Stable, the 7-year-old Yankee Glide horse scored a pocket trip behind Jim’s Message.

Third under the wire was Mountain Breez ($4.40) after a three-wide trip nearing the stretch at 10-1 odds. Driven by Chris Offutt for trainer Joe Offutt, the 5-year-old S J’s Photo mare showed improvement off of her mile last week against these. Mountain Breez is owned by Anne McDonald.

Mountain Air ($25.60, $7.00, $4.20) weaved through traffic in the $8,000 Open Pace on Tuesday to win for a second consecutive week.

Trained by Manley Brown, Jr., the 3-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding was a winner against a shade easier last time out with a mile in 1:53. This week, Mountain Air got away near the middle of the field with Wayne Long at his lines.

Pacing to the opening quarter in :27.2, Victor Vuitton N (Donnie Russell) led the way until being shuffled back along the rail. Perfect Magic, driven by Frank Milby, was parked past the first quarter behind The Fraternity Pan (Sam Belote), but gained the lead nearing the half-mile marker in :55.4.

Through plenty of racing confusion, Three Of Spades (Jonathan Roberts) paced three-wide at the half to gain the front. With so many lead changes throughout the mile, Mountain Air was forced wide as well to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.3, before winning in a new lifetime best of 1:52.3.

Upping his earnings to over $100,000 for owners Syl King, Jr., Rosalind Silletto, Frank Burgaretta and Joseph Benedetti, Jr., Mountain Air has shown improvement each week through the past few months.

Victor Vuitton N ($5.00, $4.60), a 6-year-old Dream Away gelding owned by the Carter Racing Stable LLC and Robert Myers, held on for second. Third in the notable $1,403.80 trifecta were Casimir Bad Boy and driver Victor Kirby. The 8-year-old Make A Deal gelding made up ground in the stretch after staying out of the chaos on the front end. Shawn Armour trains for owner Gary Wolf.

Harness racing returns to Rosecroft this Saturday (September 22) at 7:20 p.m.