By Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Off at 16-1 odds by post time, Erio Hanover ($35.40, $10.20, $5.20) earned an easy win in a preliminary division of the Maryland Sire Stakes for 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings at Rosecroft Raceway on Friday, June 20.

The Tejano colt, owned by Genevieve Louk, left the gate to sit parked in second through an opening quarter of :29.3. Driver Chris Offutt dropped the horse in the pocket to follow Misterio (Frank Milby) through remaining fractions of 1:00.4 and 1:31.3. Erio Hanover ended up winning by three-quarters of a length in 2:02.1.

Red Oak’s Rainbow ($97.40, $16.40), a Go Get Lost gelding driven by Wayne Long for trainer Stacey Marston and owner Lawrence Marston, finished second after making up nearly seven lengths through the back half of the mile. Concertino ($2.20), the betting choice, owned by Howard Hammond and driven and trained by Bill Long, and Misterio ($2.10), owned by the Graham Grace Stables LLC, finished in a dead heat for third.

In the division for fillies, Jane B ($3.40, $4.80, $2.80) was unstoppable, trotting gate-to-wire in fractions of :30.3, 1:02 and 1:32.1 to win in 2:03.2. John Wagner drove the Tejano filly for trainer Manley Brown, Jr. and owner Scott Woogen.

The second division for colts and geldings brought Ornellix ($6.40, $4.80, $4.00) to the winner’s circle in 2:02.2. Guided through the mile by driver Wayne Long, the Tejano colt trotted first-over early in the mile to grab the lead in the stretch with a :29.4 last quarter. Gary Cameron II trains for owner Russell Williams.

Sophomore pacers to be showcased in MDSS

The 3-year-old pacers are scheduled to race on Saturday evening in preliminary divisions of the Maryland Sire Stakes, each worth a purse of $4,000.

Boss Outlaw is the obvious choice in a division for colts and geldings. The JK Outlaw colt will open on the board at 1-5 odds from post two. Finishing third at Harrah’s Chester in his last start, Boss Outlaw paced in 1:52.4. Owned and trained by James Coughlin, the colt has a mark of 1:51.4 set at Colonial Downs last year. Donnie Russell will be in the sulky for the mile.

Dream Sunrise (Roger Plante, Jr., 15-1), Higher Mark (Frank Milby, 5-1), Coppertop (Wayne Long, 12-1) and Bulldoggin (Corey Callahan, 8-1) will also face the starter.

Southern Blue headlines the division for fillies at 4-5 early odds from post five. The daughter of Nuclear High, owned and trained by Gerald Kelly, won her last two starts with sharp efforts. Last time out, Southern Blue set a lifetime mark of 1:53.1. Brandon Givens will be aboard for the drive.

From the rail out, the field also includes Warden Woodie (Donnie Russell, 8-1), Jacqui’s Jewells (Manley Brown, Jr., 8-1), Taylorswayornoway (Cliff Green, 5-1), Simply Naked (Roger Plante, Jr., 8-1), Winsmith Brianna (Frank Milby, 8-1) and Indeman (Corey Callahan, 5-1).

The second division for colts and gelding brings Quick Thinker to the front at 1-9 morning line odds. The Glowing Tribute colt, owned by Jim Morand and Nanticoke Racing Inc., was third last time out in 1:51 with a final quarter of :27. Two starts back, the colt paced in 1:50.4 with a final tick of :26.4. Brandon Givens will drive for trainer Les Givens.

Misquoted (Roger Plante, Jr., 15-1), CJ Striker (Frank Milby, 6-1), Best Cross (Wayne Long, 8-1) and GB’s Li’l Misfit (Donnie Russell, 20-1) round out the field.

Post time for Saturday’s card is 6:30 p.m.