Fort Washington, MD — Eric and Lisa Ell’s Island Of The Sea ($3.40) and driver Russell Foster brushed to the lead right before the three-quarter mark and held off Can’t Beach That and Starship to win the $17,500 Maryland Exclusive Handicap on Thursday night (Oct. 6) at Rosecroft.

The son of Always A Virgin tied his 1:50.2 seasonal best and recorded his seventh win of the year for trainer Eric Ell.

Foster won four races on the betting card and two early non-betting Maryland Sires Stakes races.

Foster won with his own Smooth Rocket, who swept both preliminary legs and heads to the $75,000 final next week as the favorite in the 2-year-old male pacing category.

Val’s Girl ran her 2-year-old record to nine wins in as many starts as she dispatched six other pacing fillies in a lifetime best 1:55.4 for Roger Plante. Steve LeBlanc trains the winner and shares ownership with Count De Money Stable and William Lutz Jr.

“She’s just a special animal. She has taken the bigger track just fine and been terrific,” Plante said.

Goolishness, driven by Trae Porter, held off her arch rival Call Me Goo to set up a showdown in next week’s $75,000 final for freshmen filly trotters.

Sultan Of Sultans (Pat Berry), Lloyds Loves (John Wagner) and How Do You Goo (Foster) also won Sires Stakes events.

Jonathan Roberts won three times and Trae Porter twice on the night.