by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Warden Woodie ($3.80, $2.10, $2.10) paced wire-to-wire in a $3,000 preliminary division of the Maryland Sires Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at Rosecroft Raceway on Tuesday, September 11, taking her second consecutive win at this level of competition.

The freshman daughter of Allie’s Western now has a line of 2-4-2 across the board from eight lifetime starts, and over $22,000 banked in earnings. Driven by Chris Offutt for trainer Manley Brown, Jr., the filly took the lead before the quarter pole from post position six. Offutt rated the mile well, guiding Warden Woodie through fractions of :28.4, 1:01.3 and 1:29.4, claiming victory in 1:58.1. The filly, owned by Frederick Kessell of South Carolina, won by a little over a length as the 1-9 betting choice.

Misdori ($2.80, $2.60) sat in the pocket for second with trainer Ben Stafford, Jr. in the sulky. The Misfit filly, owned by the Potkin Stables of New York, showed late foot with a :28.3 last quarter. Winsmith Brianna ($5.20) rounded out the top three finishers with a trip on the outside. Donnie Russell drove the Masterman filly off of the gate from post five, pacing second-over to hit the board. Brian Callahan trains for owner Scott Woogen.

Earlier in the betting card, Montabello Jake ($8.40, $2.60, $2.10) trotted through a tough mile to win in 2:01.3. The 3-year-old Go Get Lost gelding was driven by Donnie Russell from post seven. Russell tucked in fifth along the rail for an opening quarter of :29, and came second-over at the half in 1:00.3. Montabello Jake gained momentum, passing the three-quarter pole in 1:31.1 to win by 2-1/2 lengths. Syl King, Jr. trains and owns the gelding.

After taking the lead from post eight, Kursk ($3.40, $2.40) finished second as the betting choice for owner Shirley Shand. The Go Get Lost gelding, driven by Frank Milby for trainer Ken Shand, was used hard to the quarter. Milby rated the mile well, but fell short in the stretch to the late-closing Montabello Jake. Third were Shenandoah Shag ($7.40) and driver Victor Kirby. The Go Get Lost gelding came from last, making up several lengths through the back half of the mile. Betsy Brown trains for owners Terry Kibler and Marvin Sigler.

In the non-wagering events, Coppertop showed much improvement in the 2-year-old colt and gelding pace. The Misfit gelding came third-over after opening fractions of :28 and :57, gaining the lead after the three-quarter pole in a swift 1:26.2. Coppertop, driven by Billy Mann for trainer John Wilkerson, won by a head in 1:55.4. The gelding is co-owned by Edward and Karen Walls, both of Delaware.

Best Cross, driven by John Wagner, tried a three-wide move for second. The son of Nuclear High, trained by Roger Hans for owner Tom Cooke, closed alertly with a :29.1 last quarter. Only Shot, a Masterman colt, was third with Donnie Russell at his lines. Only Shot led the first-over bid but failed to clear for the lead. The colt still performed well, however, just missing by three-quarters of a length. Edwin Gannon owns and trains the colt.

Dilly Dally Delia was incredibly impressive in her division for 3-year-old filly trotters. The daughter of Go Get Lost was driven to the lead by Victor Kirby from post position seven. Kirby guided the filly through quarters of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:30.1, winning by over 15 lengths in 1:59.2. John Wilkerson trains for owner Benjamin Brooks of Maryland.

Second under the wire was Teenie Beanie, a Go Get Lost filly. Owned, trained and driven by Syl King, Jr., Teenie Beanie came home in :30.2. Go Get Blanche, driven by trainer Dan Myer, was third. The Go Get Lost filly is owned by the Bdmck Stable and James McGinnis.

After winning at this level last week, Jim’s Message ($8.80, $3.60, $2.10) worked out a trip in the pocket to score in the $10,000 Open Trot with Victor Kirby in the sulky.

The 6-year-old Carry The Message gelding followed Slate (John Wagner) through fractions of :28.2, :57.3 and 1:26.2. Kirby tipped the gelding out in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.3. Jeff Long trains and owns Jim’s Message. Slate ($4.20, $2.10) held on for second, while Four Starz Eye Van ($2.20), driven by Jonathan Roberts, was third.

Desmet ($17.40, $5.60, $3.00) was nothing short of impressive in the Open Pace worth $8,000, going gate-to-wire in an unchallenged mile to set a new lifetime mark of 1:51.4.

Driven by Wayne Long, the 6-year-old Cam’s Magic Trick gelding took the lead forcefully off of the gate and paced through quarters of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:23.4. Long asked the horse for more in the stretch, drawing away by over three lengths to win his fifth of the year. Trevor Stafford trains Desmet for owner William Wood of Maryland. With this win, Desmet upped his lifetime earnings to over $101,000.

Big Switch ($4.40, $4.00), the even-money choice by post time, finished second with a trip along the rail. Victor Kirby drove the 5-year-old No Nukes gelding for owner-trainer Brian Callahan. The Fraternity Pan ($2.40), parked through the middle half of the mile, was third. Brian Burton drove the veteran Artsplace horse for trainer Ken Schlotzhauer and owner Kelley Rogers.

Racing action continues this Saturday (September 15) at 7:20 p.m.