by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway
Ft. Washington, MD — Horses that know how to win, rarely ever lose that touch in harness racing. While they might drop in class as they age, a winner knows where the wire is.
In the case of 10-year-old Hi Sir, there has been no loss of class and no loss of a will to win. Sunday night (May 27), as Capital Builder (Jonathan Roberts) and Hickory Aloha (Timmy Offutt) sprinted to an opening quarter of :25.4, Russell Foster moved his pacer Hi Sir first-over, clearing by a :56.2 half. Hi Sir then sprinted the back half in :54.1 to hold off a determined Diamondkeeper (John Wagner) and Capital Builder in 1:50.3. Foster owns and trains the winner who picked up career win number 50.
It was the first of two wins on the night for Foster who won with Our Jerry Lee N ($7.00) for owner Gloria Kinnamon and trainer Jamie Vance.
Roger Plante had a double, taking race two with Bevnlindas Sunnap ($10.40) for owner-trainer Ken Schlotzhauer and the finale with Laurent Hanover ($10.80) for owner-trainer Howard Birney.
Sean Bier had two wins. Bier won with Here’s The Scoop ($5.80) for Nicole Hardy and trainer Steven Nason in a lifetime best 1:52.2. Bier came back to win with BP Burner ($5.60) for Terry Kibler, James Brown and trainer Besty Brown. Normally a closer, most often from deep in the pack, Bier sent BP Burner to the lead after the first quarter and rolled to a four length win in 1:52.2, a lifetime mark.
Brian Burton netted back-to-back wins in races seven and eight. Manattack scorched the lightning fast oval for a gate-to-wire score in 1:51. Cutting fractions of :26.2, :53.3, and 1:21.1, Burton, who trains and co-owns with Greg Dypsky, was never in position to call on the winner who coasted home by five lengths.
In the eighth, Simple Man, also owned and trained by Burton, took another route, closing from seventh, holding off Artistic Choice (Foster) in 1:53.4.
Wednesday night is closing night of the Spring meet, with food and drink specials as well as a love band starting at 6 p.m., the highlight on the closing night, 13-race card. Post time is 6:40 p.m. Multiple $67,400 Maryland Sires Stakes finals lead the card.