Stake races highlight Friday card at Rosecroft
July 16, 2005,By Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office
FT. WASHINGTON, MD – Three stakes races were contested on Friday evening at Rosecroft Raceway, and the expected frontrunner of each division found themselves in the winners’ circle.
The first division of the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund for three-year-old colts and gelding pacers was held as a non-betting event. Vivid Photo, the gelded son of SJ’s Photo who set a world record by pacing to a 1:54.4 victory in the PA Sire Stakes on June 25, topped the field of six in a moderate 1:56.2.
Driven by Roger Hammer, Vivid Photo caught the lead before the quarter pole and pulled away from the field, surpassing Yankee Slugfest (Eddie Davis) by three lengths. Whitesville Steve (Cliff Green) was third.
Vivid Photo, racing for owner-trainer Roger Hammer and owner Todd Schadel, picked up his share of the $14,575 purse with his seventh win of the year. He will be headed towards the Hambletonian at the Meadowlands in late August.
The $41,726 Maryland Sire Stakes final for freshman fillies was scheduled as an early, non-betting event as well. Taylors Lady conquered a competitive field of five with driver Donnie Long, hitting the lead immediately after the gate pulled away. The Masterman filly cut fractions of 29.1, 1:00.0 and 1:28.2 to set a new lifetime record of 1:57.2 with her second win. Dennis Walls and trainer Jeff Clark own the talented filly.
Social Impact (John Wagner) was second and Sweetlittlefarmgal, the winner of last week’s division, suffered an early break but recovered to finish third with reinsman Donnie Russell.
The second division of the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund for the three-year-old colt and gelding pacers was contested in the fourth race, and the 2-1 morning line choice SJ’s Cebulla [$5.00, $4.60, $2.40] dominated the field, coasting to a win in 1:57.3 to set a new lifetime record.
Trainer-driver David Wade hit the lead early with the SJ’s Photo colt, only to be challenged by Kyle E Koyote [$2.60, $2.20] (Jim Morand) throughout the race. Kyle E Koyote held the lead until the three-quarter pole, eventually losing the battle to SJ’s Cebulla in the stretch by three-quarters of a length. BO W [$2.40] (Mark Gingrich) was third.
Racing for the Sweet And Sassy Stable, SJ’s Cebulla earned his first win of the year, adding his share of the $14,775 purse to his card.
Live harness racing action will continue at Rosecroft on Saturday evening. The full 16-race card, highlighted by stakes events, will get underway at 7:20 p.m.