by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Corey Braden reached a driving milestone at Rosecroft Raceway on Saturday evening (Feb. 17), scoring a hat trick on the 11-race card to up his career total to 1,000 wins.

His first victory of the evening came aboard Lou’s Lucky Tune ($3.40, $2.80, $2.60). The 4-year-old Tune Town gelding paced wire-to-wire against a maiden field to earn a mark of 2:01.1. Braden urged the gelding off of the gate for the lead and expertly rated fractions of :29, 1:00.2 and 1:30.3. Owned and trained by Ollie Ervin, Lou’s Lucky Tune closed well with a :30.3 final quarter.

In the fifth race, Phish Food ($10.80, $3.80, $3.40) brought Braden to the winner’s circle for a second consecutive week. The talented 4-year-old trotting daughter of SJ’s Caviar was shuffled back to sixth at the three-quarter pole but found late racing room to win by a head in 2:00.4. Trained by Syl King, Jr. for the Rocky Meadow Stable of Pennsylvania, Phish Food held strong through fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:29.4.

Caper ($2.80, $2.20, $2.20) was the obvious choice in race nine. The 5-year-old Yankee Glide mare, leased and trained by Syl King, Jr., make a confident quarter-pole move for the lead. Trotting through fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.3 with Braden in the sulky, Caper took a commanding lead to win in 2:01.3.

Braden currently tops the Rosecroft driver standings with 22 wins on the meet. As of February 15, Braden’s UDR is .368 with over $50,000 earned in purse money.

Drivin’ Miss Rudee wins feature pace

Drivin’ Miss Rudee ($8.80, $3.20, $2.80) was unchallenged in the $6,000 Winners Over Pace for Fillies and Mares at Rosecroft on Saturday, wiring the field in an easy 1:57.1.

The 5-year-old Walton Hanover mare left the gate from post five with Donnie Russell at her lines to take the lead before the quarter pole. Pacing through moderate fractions of :28.1, :59.2 and 1:28.1, the trainee of John Sumner notched her first win of the season.

Co-owned by Sumner and William Camp, Jr., Drivin’ Miss Rudee had an outstanding season last year, sporting a line of 7-10-5 across the board from 38 starts.

From the rail, Gorgeous Lover ($3.20, $2.10) crossed under the wire second. Driven by John Wagner for trainer Manley Brown, Jr., the 6-year-old daughter of Real Artist closed well with a :29 final quarter, finishing two lengths behind the winner. Heather Ronay of New Jersey owns the mare.

GH Shady Lady ($3.00) finished third in the $63.00 trifecta. The 5-year-old Shady Character mare, owned and trained by Basil Sapienza, paced through a first-over trip with Frank Milby in the bike.

Monday highlights

Two featured races will be held over the 14-race card on Monday (Feb. 19) at Rosecroft.

In race three, the Open Trot, a field of five will vie for a purse of $8,200. Four Starz Robro is set to open on the board as the 9-5 early choice after recently showing success at The Meadowlands. On February 2, the 5-year-old Conway Hall stallion trotted to a fourth place finish in 1:57.2, and three starts back took a seasonal best mark of 1:55.4 over the mile track. Trainer Judith Welty has named Corey Braden as driver, and the pair will leave the gate from post two. Kelly Rogers of Virginia owns the horse.

Magic Swan will also make an appearance in post five with Jonathan Roberts at his lines. The 5-year-old Enjoy Lavec gelding, co-owned by James Harris and trainer Jeff Long, has been traveling the East Coast to compete in upper-level classes at several tracks. The gelding finished second two weeks ago at Freehold Raceway after cutting the mile. Magic Swan has also been racing in the Junior Open at Dover Downs with some success.

Chosen Voyageur (John Wagner, 6-1), Goodbye Daddy (Frank Milby, 4-1) and TV Show Kosmos (Chris Offutt, 9-1) complete the field.

In the $8,200 Open Pace, Dixie Pride is again favored at 2-1 morning line odds. The 6-year-old Real Artist horse, co-owned by George Aide and trainer-driver Joe Offutt, drew post three in the field of six. Last week in this class, Dixie Pride challenged Tarver Hanover with a first-over move and finished second in 1:53.3.

Blissfull Silence, second choice at 5-2 odds from the rail, will have Donnie Russell back in the sulky. The 6-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding, owned and trained by Trevor Stafford, was a winner two weeks ago in this class with a mile timed n 1:54.2.

Jacob’s Western will debut for the Colby Hubble Stable after a stint at Monticello Raceway. The 6-year-old Western Hanover gelding, co-owned by Hubble and Jacob Ramsburg, was a winner his last start at the New York oval in 1:55. Corey Braden will drive the gelding from post two at 5-1 early odds.

Wynnfield Scamp (Frank Milby, 9-2), JJ’s Artiscape (Corey Callahan, 4-1) and Pleasing Artist (John Wagner, 8-1) round out the field.

Post time for Monday’s 14-race card is 5:35 p.m.