by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD –– Two competitive Masterman colts will meet head-to-head once again in the Maryland Sires Stake Final for two-year-old pacers on Saturday evening at Rosecroft.

In the first leg of the Sires Stakes, Brian Callahan’s Man He Can Go hit the lead immediately off of the gate from post six as the favorite to win in 1:59.1. Driven by John Wagner, Man He Can Go topped Control Freak (Donnie Russell) by one and three-quarter lengths. The third choice at 4-1 odds, Manpower, driven by Nick Callahan, broke stride immediately after the start and sat out of the race to finish eighth.

The tables were turned in the second leg when Manpower held himself together under the direction of reinsman Brad Hanners. Manpower beat out Man He Can Go (John Wagner) by a mere half length in 1:56.3 from post position six.

The $43,226 Sires Stake Final for pacing colts and geldings will bring them to the gate once again with Manpower (Brad Hanners) in the rail spot and Man He Can Go (John Wagner) in post position four. Brian Callahan trains both Masterman colts.

Also competing are Kosher King (Mark King), Control Freak (Donnie Russell), Miscellaneous (Bill Long), Addison (Jewett Pumphrey) and Headline News (Sean Bier).

Two pacing divisions of the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund for three-year-old colts and geldings are scheduled for Saturday evening as well.

The eighth race, worth $16,070, brings a field of seven to the track. Sires Stake champion J A’s Outlaw will come from post position three with driver John Wagner at the lines. The son of JK Outlaw proved victorious in the Sires Stake Final on July 2, pacing wire-to-wire in 1:54.3. The trainee of Manley Brown, Jr. is owned by Earl Wagner.

Perfect World Enterprises’ Saving Lives will make his first start on the Rosecroft oval from post position seven. Trainer Deshawn Minor has named Brad Hanners as driver. The Cambest colt has recently been competitive in a non-winners class at the Meadowlands, and holds a lifetime record of 1:52.4.

Winsmith Buddy (Vic Kirby), Aces Over (Donnie Russell), Nuclear Nick (Sean Bier), Milford Mill (Eddie Davis) and Western Number (Cliff Green) complete the field.

The tenth race, carrying a purse of $16,270, brings the Roger Hans trainee Nuclear Breeze to post position three. Paired with driver Donnie Russell once again, the Nuclear High colt finished second in the Sires Stake Final after making a break and a miraculous recovery. Owned by Tom Cooke, Nuclear Breeze holds a lifetime mark of 1:53.3 set at Rosecroft on June 18.

Revolutionary Foe, owned by Perfect World Enterprises, comes here from the Meadowlands after two consecutive wins. On June 30, the Artsplace colt nosed out the competition to set a lifetime mark of 1:51.2 on the mile track. Sean Bier has been assigned the drive, and the pair will start from post position seven.

Rounding out the field are Open Shot (Tim Curtin), Lookout For Me (Mike Cole), Family Fortune (Brad Hanners), Allamerican Apache (John Wagner), Badlands Hunter (Walt Callahan) and Exotic Hero (Vic Kirby).

Post time for the 16 race slate is set for 7:20 p.m. on Saturday at Rosecroft.