by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

FT. WASHINGTON, MD — The second preliminary rounds of the Maryland Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacers were held at Rosecroft Raceway on Saturday evening, and there were prominent horses in each race.

Southern Myles took another victory in a non-betting division for colts and geldings worth $3,000, winning wire-to-wire in 1:54.3. Driven by Brandon Givens through early quarters of 27.3, 57.3 and 1:26.3, the Nuclear High colt closed with a sharp 28 last quarter. Richard Hans trains for owner Gerald Kelly.

Talbot Redneck, reined by Wayne Long, finished second while Hard Head and Frank Milby were third. Talbot Redneck, a gelded son of Misfit, is co-owned by trainer Ken Schlotzhauer and David Donahue. Hard Head is a Nuclear High gelding owned by Scott Collier. Mark Gray trains the gelding.

In the first wagering race for fillies worth $3,000, High Speed Racer [$3.80, $2.20, $2.10] took to the front end with John Wagner at her lines to win her fifth mile of the season. Pacing through well-rated fractions of 28.2, 56.4 and 1:25.1, the Nuclear High filly drew away to beat the trailers in 1:55.2 which marks a lifetime best. Roger Hans trains the consistent performer for owner Tom Cooke.

In second were Firstover Windy [$2.40, $2.80] and driver Tim Curtin. Trained by Bob Myers Sr., the Misfit filly dropped in the two-hole early on in the race and closed well to the wire. Thevoodoothatyoudo [$2.40] crossed under the wire third after sitting along the rail. Driven by Brandon Givens for owner-trainer Richard Hans, the Nuclear High filly was third last week as well with a game effort. The trifecta paid $34.80.

The colts and geldings hit the track in the third race for $3,000, and General Nelson [$2.60, $2.20, $2.10] paced gate to wire at 1-5 odds. Leaving from the outside post position, driver John Wagner urged the Allie’s Western colt to the top to take the field through fractions of 29.2, 59.4 and 1:27.3. General Nelson, trained by Manley Brown Jr. for owner Frederick Kessell, won in 1:56.1, taking a new lifetime mark.

From post five, Yokozuna Bo [$5.40, $2.80] sat in second and finished there with Matt Stelick at his lines. The Allie’s Western colt, a trainee of Betsy Brown, showed improvement off of his last start where he was third in 1:58.3. Ralph Hayward owns Yokozuna Bo. Mismark [$8.20] and driver Tim Curtin were third from the rail in the $72.20 trifecta. “Bib” Roberts trains the Misfit gelding for owners Dr. William Solomon, Ed Nelson and William Conn.

Justasplashofwhite [$2.10, $2.10] was by far the best once again in the second division for fillies worth $3,000. The Shotgun Scott filly, co-owned by Charlene and Danyell Long, Leslie Reagan and Carlie Long, simply dominated the field through quarters of 28.3, 58.1 and 1:26.1. Without lifting the whip once, driver Vic Kirby allowed the filly to draw away by nearly 10 lengths for the win in 1:54.3. Jeff Long trains the winner of nearly $100,000 lifetime.

My Aunt Margaret [$3.60] finished second with driver Roger Plante Jr. at her lines for owner Ron Davis. Trained by Brooks Gray, the Masterman filly came first-over after the half to hold on for the place spot. Tell Hillary, driven by trainer Donnie Russell, was third in the $6.60 triple. Russell co-owns the Misfit filly with Edward Needle.