by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Betting favorite H Hall ($2.80, $2.60, $2.10) paced the mile of his life in a non-winners event for colts and geldings worth $3,600 at Rosecroft Raceway on Saturday, April 21, winning by over four lengths in 1:55.1 and topping his previous lifetime mark of 1:57.

The 3-year-old Blissfull Hall colt left the gate from post two with trainer Brian Burton in the sulky and dropped in along the rail fourth. After sitting behind Weir Hanover (Victor Kirby) through opening fractions of :28.1 and :58, Burton tipped H Hall out and drew away for the lead through a three-quarter mark of 1:26.1 and a final quarter of :29. Owned by Greg Burton, H Hall now has three consecutive wins over the Rosecroft oval.

Artists Mark ($26.60, $9.20), a 44-1 longshot driven by trainer Manley Brown, Jr., got up for second in the stretch. Coming from off of the pace, the 3-year-old Real Artist colt made up several lengths late in the mile for owner Heather Ronay.

Third under the wire were Talbot Redneck ($2.20) and driver Wayne Long. Surviving a difficult trip from last, the 3-year-old Misfit colt paced a brave three-wide mile to close with a :29.2 final quarter. Ken Schlotzhauer trains and co-owns the colt with David Donahue.

The 2-6-7 trifecta paid $242.80.

The Fraternity Pan returns to Rosecroft Open

After a successful run at The Meadowlands, The Fraternity Pan will compete in the $10,000 Open Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Monday evening (April 23) as the 5-2 morning line choice.

After posting two wins in March, both in 1:51.1 with Ron Pierce at his lines, the 8-year-old Artsplace horse will return to his home track in Maryland. Set to leave the gate from post position six with Walter Callahan in the sulky, The Fraternity Pan shows a line of 2-1-1 across the board from nine seasonal starts. Ken Schlotzhauer trains the winner of over $287,000 for owner Kelley Rogers.

Print It will compete from post position seven as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line. Coming to Rosecroft from the Dover Downs Open Handicap, the 5-year-old gelded son of The Panderosa was a winner two starts back with a wire-to-wire mile in 1:50.4. Trainer Don Milby has named Frank Milby as driver and the pair will race for owner Jay Kelly.

JJ’s Artiscape, the winner of the past three Open Paces at Rosecroft, is definitely one to consider at 4-1 morning line odds from post five. With Donnie Russell back in the sulky, the 6-year-old Artiscape gelding is extremely sharp right now, posting a victory in 1:53.3 last week. “Doc” Davison, Jr. trains the gelding for owners Mayanne Karmin and Sydell Stone.

Other contenders include No Wishes (Corey Braden, 8-1), Sleep Easy (Jonathan Roberts, 9-2), Desmet (Wayne Long, 8-1) and Dixie Pride (Joe Offutt, 6-1).

The $10,000 Open Trot also brings a host of talented competitors to the track. Done Dreamen will look for two in a row as the 2-1 morning line choice for trainer “Bib” Roberts. Set to be driven by regular reinsman Jonathan Roberts, the 4-year-old Donerail gelding topped last week’s field by 5-1/2 lengths to win in a lifetime best of 1:57.3. Done Dreamen, a winner of over $104,000 lifetime, is co-owned by “Bib” Roberts, Ed Nelson and William Conn.

From the outside of the gate, Safari Heat will give it a go from post position six as the 5-2 second choice. Coming to Rosecroft off of a third place finish in 1:56.2 at Dover Downs, the 5-year-old Striking Sahbra gelding will have Corey Braden at his lines. Trainer Thomas Morris, Jr. co-owns the gelding with Gregg Morris.

Goodbye Daddy will round out the top three choices at 3-1 odds. Finishing second to Done Dreamen last week in 1:58.3, the 5-year-old Master Lavec gelding will leave the gate from post three with owner Frank Milby in the sulky. Don Milby trains Goodbye Daddy.

TV Show Kosmos (Joe Offutt, 6-1), Duya Kid (Vic Kirby, 8-1) and Four Starz Eye Van (Alvin Lineweaver, 6-1) top off the field.

Post time for Monday’s big 15-race card is 5:35 p.m.