by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway

Ft. Washington, MD — Trainer Joseph Columbo is the latest to try and tame the insanely talented, but quirky behaved Hybrid Heidi. In five wins as a 3-year-old last year, she paced a solid 1:53.1, but issues going to the gate and breaks derailed her endless potential for stardom.

Sunday night (May 6) at Rosecroft, the daughter of Cam’s Rocket out of the trotting mare Lookin Back At You, bred by Maryland breeder Richard Hans, starred and survived an early jump heading to the gate to win the $13,100 Maryland Sires Stakes Mares Open for 4- and 5-year olds, winning in 1:53.3, in gate-to-wire fashion for driver-trainer Columbo. He owns the mare with Sofia Zingale. It was the sixth win in 33 starts for the mare who raised her earnings to $43,218.

In the boys version, Mr Ham Sandwich quarter-poled to the front after the opening split and survived a brief bobble in the stretch to take the top spot for Russell Foster in 1:53.2. Breeder Brian Emerson sold the 4-year-old son of Cam’s Rocket to Allard Racing Incorporated in a private sale last week. The stallion had won two straight at Pocono before delivering at his former home track Sunday night. It was the 17th win in 30 lifetime starts for Mr Ham Sandwich whose earnings are now over $177,000.

Foster and Columbo had big nights as Foster won with Bad Man Sam ($19.00) and Bella’s Plunkett ($14.00) from the eight hole in each.

Columbo swept the Winners Over and Open Handicaps as driver Mike Cole won the Winners Over with Seventh Secret ($3.40), holding off a late charge from JW Renegade and John McKinnon. Pacesetter Hickory Aloha (Timmy Offutt) finished third despite broken equipment. The time of the win was 1:50.4, the fastest for the son of Allamerican Native in two seasons. He is owned by George and Tina Dennis Racing and picked up his fourth win in 13 starts this year.

In the $10,000 Open Handicap, Cole found room on the final turn with Silver Fox J, after sitting second over. Multiple horses ended up three- and four-wide, so Cole snuck back to the rail at three-quarters and that turned out to be the winning strategy. Silver Fox J won down the passing lane, holding off Abelard Hanover by a nose in 1:51.2. Diamond Keeper (John Wagner) was third.

Wagner won three times, twice for Scott Woogen with Southwind Ferrari in a lifetime best 1:55 and K J Alison in 1:56. Wagner’s third straight win came for Tammy and Gary Crescenze and their 3-year-old gelding Up Dog Hanover. The son of Well Said won for the second time in seven lifetime starts in a career best 1:55. Arlene Cameron conditions all three and won five races on the weekend.

Trainer Brittany Bounds won three races Saturday night, the most notable with Canadian newcomer DBS Rosco, who is three-for-three for the new barn and won in a lifetime best 1:52 for Ricky Still who drove all three Bounds winners.

Trainer Megan Roberts has 13 wins on the meet, Bounds 15 and Cameron leads all conditioners with 18. John Hollingsworth and Ken Schlotzhauer are also in contention for the training title with eight nights remaining.

Jared Moyer also had three wins on the Saturday night card.

Live racing continues Wednesday at 6:40 p.m.