by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Betting favorites lived up to their promise in several $3,000 preliminary divisions of the Maryland Sire Stakes for 3-year-old pacers on Saturday evening (June 16) at Rosecroft Raceway.

In the first race, Southern Myles ($2.10, $2.10, $2.10) stole the show with an easy win in 1:53.2. The Nuclear High colt took to the lead immediately off of the gate with driver Brandon Givens along for the ride. Passing the quarter pole in :27.2, Southern Myles began to open up on the field. Pacing through middle fractions of :56.3 and 1:24.4, the pacer won easily for owner Gerald Kelly. Trained by Richard Hans, the talented sophomore went off at 1-9 odds with over $170,000 in the show pool bet on him alone. Southern Myles now sports a lifetime line of 12-3-1 across the board from 19 starts.

General Nelson ($2.20, $3.60) finished second with John Wagner in the bike. The Allie’s Western colt, owned by Frederick Kessell, closed along the rail. Manley Brown, Jr. trains the colt. After sitting in the pocket, Hard Head ($3.80) held on for third in the $19.80 trifecta. Frank Milby drove the Nuclear High gelding for trainer Mark Gray and owner Scott Collier.

High Speed Racer ($5.20, $3.40, $2.10) won the first division for fillies. The daughter of Nuclear High paced three-wide in the stretch after sitting back through fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:26. Driven by John Wagner for trainer Roger Hans, High Speed Racer kicked into another gear in the stretch, closing well to win in 1:56.2. Tom Cooke owns the filly, who set a new lifetime mark with this win.

Tidewater Gee Gee ($3.40, $2.10) crossed under the wire second for driver Art Stafford, Jr. The Ataturk filly made up ground along the rail in the stretch. Trevor Stafford trains for owner Thomas Singleton. One of the betting choices, Thevoodoothatyoudo ($2.10), held on for third after a tough first-over trip. Reined by Brandon Givens, the Nuclear High filly showed heart in the stretch to hit the board. Richard Hans owns and trains the filly, and the trifecta returned $60.60.

In the fifth race, Justasplashofwhite ($2.10, $2.10, $2.10) remained undefeated, and is currently 10-for-10 lifetime. The Shotgun Scott filly, co-owned by Charlene and Danyell Long, Leslie Reagan and Carlie Long, quarter-poled for the top to pace through moderate fractions of :29, :59.3, 1:28.3 and 1:57. Trained by Jeff Long, Justasplashofwhite was driven by regular reinsman Vic Kirby. Recently, the filly qualified in 1:55.4, winning by ten lengths.

My Aunt Margaret ($3.20, $3.60) finished second with Roger Plante, Jr. in the sulky. The Masterman filly is trained by Brooks Gray and is owned by Ronald Davis. Third in the $61.20 triple were Firstover Windy ($4.60) and driver Tim Curtin. Bob Myers trains and owns the Misfit filly.

In the final division of the Sire Stakes for colts and geldings, Talbot Redneck paced wire-to-wire from post two to earn his second consecutive victory at Rosecroft. The Misfit gelding, driven by Wayne Long, took to the lead and held strong through quarters of :29, :59.2, 1:27.3 and 1:56.2. Ken Schlotzhauer trains and co-owns the gelding with David Donahue.

Mental Lapse ($5.00, $2.80) was second with Vic Kirby in the bike for owners Henry Faragalli III, Arthur Feeney, Tom Jackson and Anthony Clark. Trained by Shaun Callahan, the Shotgun Scott gelding closed alertly in the stretch. Betsy Brown-trainee Yokozuna Bo ($2.80) was third. Driven by Matt Stelick, the Allie’s Western colt showed late speed to complete the $58.00 trifecta. Ralph Hayward owns the talented pacer.

Boca Hanover took to the top and stayed there, winning the $9,000 Open Pace for fillies and mares on Saturday. Driven straight to the lead by Frank Milby, the 5-year-old daughter of The Panderosa took the trailers through fractions of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:26.2. Unchallenged through the mile, Boca Hanover posted her fourth consecutive win, stopping the timer in 1:55.1. Don Milby trains the winner of nearly $110,000 lifetime for owner Irwin Samelman.

Scoring a pocket trip, Fire And Art ($2.80, $2.10) was second with John Wagner in the bike. Trained by Manley Brown, Jr. for owner Pamela Wagner, the 3-year-old Dragon Again filly has been on the board in her last six starts and shows improvement with each mile.

You’re Welcome ($2.10) was third in the $13.00 trifecta. Driven by Tim Curtin for trainer John Stubbs, the 5-year-old Dragon Again mare was shuffled back along the rail to the three hole and held on in the stretch. Ron McLenaghan owns the mare.

Live racing action returns to the Rosecroft oval on Monday (June 18) at 5:35 p.m.