Fort Washington, MD – Favored at 1-20, Dover invader Deadline Hall made easy work of his five rivals in Thursday’s (March 12) $10,000 trotting feature at Rosecroft Raceway, serving as the highlight of a grand slam for trainer Michael Hall on the 13-race program.
In line to Jonathan Roberts, Deadline Hall secured a pocket ride behind 53-time winner Judge Bob (driven by Eric Davis) to stalk fractions of :28, :56.4 and 1:26. As the first-over Dowedealinandwhy (Jared Moyer) intensified the pressure on Judge Bob through the far turn, Roberts was loaded with trot with Deadline Hall, and the 6-year-old Muscle Mass-Daylon Mystique gelding surged up the open stretch to post a 1-1/2-length win in 1:57. Judge Bob held second over the ground-saving Crossfit Mouse (Corey Braden), who lifted off cover to narrowly miss the runner-up spot.
Hall co-owns 14-time winner Deadline Hall, who paid $2.10 to win, with Manklin Creek LLC. Hall’s other winners on the program were Yall Just Love Me (1:56.4, $2.60) and Wise Professor (1:55.4, $4.60), both also driven by Roberts; and Sicerto (1:55.3, $2.10), whom Roger Plante Jr. teamed to victory. The four-win night propelled Hall into a tie for the lead atop the Rosecroft training table with Johnny Crites Jr., both with 17 wins seven weeks into the winter-spring meet, which continues through mid-May.
Roberts and Justin Vincent shared top driving honors with three wins apiece.
When live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday (March 16), there will be a $37,297.06 carryover in the 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5, offered in the final race. First post for the 13-race program is 7:15 p.m. (EDT).