by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — True North Hanover ($3.80, $2.80, $2.10) was by far the best in the $9,000 Open Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Tuesday, August 21, winning impressively in 1:51.2.

Leaving the gate from post two with trainer Donnie Russell in the sulky, the 4-year-old gelded son of The Panderosa dropped in along the rail, following frontrunner No Wishes (Jonathan Roberts) to the quarter-pole in :27.1. Russell took the gelding out first-over after the opening fraction to secure the lead. True North Hanover led the field through remaining quarters of :55 and 1:22.4, fending off all competitors in the stretch. The winner of nearly $400,000 lifetime is co-owned by Russell and Edward Needle.

Pacing first-over from the back of the field was Racsan John ($3.80, $3.00) for second. The 7-year-old Wynfield Mark gelding, driven by Victor Kirby, took air through much of the mile, showing heart in the stretch to hit the board. Daniel Warrington trains and co-owns Racsan John with Don Hawk.

Third in the $76.20 trifecta was Jacob’s Western ($4.60), a 6-year-old Western Hanover gelding. John Wagner drove the horse through a good trip along the rail, making up ground in the stretch. Since returning to racing after time off, Jacob’s Western has been on the board in each of his four starts. Trainer Colby Hubble co-owns the gelding with Jacob Ramsburg.

Brilliant Success fights traffic to win Open Trot

After being forced three-wide through much of the mile, Brilliant Success ($17.00, $6.00, $4.80) scored an upset win in the $10,000 Open Trot on Tuesday.

The 7-year-old William R gelding, owned and trained by Eugene Walls II, started from post two and was shuffled back to nearly last during a speed duel between Four Starz Robro (Jeff Fout) and Jim‘s Message (Victor Kirby).

Driver Wayne Long kept Brilliant Success along the rail through opening quarters of :28.2 and :58 before tipping the gelding out for a second-over trip behind the fast-moving Slate (John Wagner). Long urged Brilliant Success on to the three-quarters in 1:27, winning by a nose in 1:57.4. Last time at Rosecroft, Brilliant Success was the best in a lower-level trot, proving victorious in 1:56.1.

Slate ($5.00, $4.80) finished second for the Trick Pony Stable after a demanding trip. The 7-year-old Yankee Glide horse trotted gamely in the stretch for trainer Manley Brown, Jr.

Quiet Tech ($4.00) crossed under the wire third with Frank Milby in the sulky. The 5-year-old High Tech horse, racing for the Ducharme connections, rounded out the $300.40 triple.

The 4-5 betting favorite, Four Starz Robro, was used hard early in the mile and finished fourth.

Traider Raider, Perfect Magic finish in dead heat

Both Traider Raider ($3.00, $3.00, $3.00) and Perfect Magic ($2.80, $2.80, $2.60) won a division of the Open II pace, finishing in a dead heat for a purse of $8,000.

Traider Raider, driven from post four by Victor Kirby, has been consistent in his recent starts, winning the Open II pace in two of his last three starts. The 9-year-old Keystone Raider gelding is co-owned by William Stevenson and trainer Brian Callahan.

Perfect Magic showed improvement off of his last start; the 4-year-old Bettor’s Delight horse posted his sixth victory of the year in this race. Driven by John Wagner for trainer Roger Hans, Perfect Magic upped his lifetime earnings to over $50,000. Tom Cooke owns the horse.

Racing returns to the Rosecroft oval on Saturday, August 25, at 7:20 p.m.