by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Freshman pacing fillies were showcased at Rosecroft Raceway on Tuesday (July 24) in divisions of the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund.

In the first $15,300 division, Snatch The Fortune ($9.60, $3.60, $2.60) took the lead with a swift opening quarter of :27.2. Driven by Roger Plante, Jr. for trainer Clayton Goad, the Cams Fortune filly cut quarters of :57.2 and 1:27 while holding a commanding lead. Snatch The Fortune took her second seasonal win with a mile in 1:56.3, which is a lifetime best. Goad co-owns the filly with John Brown of Maryland.

Fiddle The Rose ($2.10, $2.10), the 1-9 co-favorite, was second after making up several lengths through the back half of the mile. Driven by Jonathan Roberts, the daughter of Allamerican Ingot crossed under the wire three-quarters of a length behind the winner. Todd Johnston trains for owners Joanna and Joe Thomson of Maryland.

Third in the $50.60 trifecta was Scott Woogen-owned Winsmith Brianna ($11.80), a longshot at 46-1 odds by post time. The Masterman filly raced well from post seven, showing early gate speed to secure a spot along the rail in third. Donnie Russell drove the filly for trainer Brian Callahan.

In the next division for fillies, worth a purse of $15,100, Victor Kirby drove Our New Treasure ($5.20, $3.00, $2.20) through a grueling mile to win by 1-3/4 lengths. The daughter of Allamerican Ingot, the even-money choice by post time, left the gate from post two to sit in fourth through an opening quarter of :28.2. Kirby took the filly out three-wide before the half in :58.2, and looked Warden Woodie (Donnie Russell) in the eye to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4. At the top of the stretch, Kirby asked the filly for more and she responded, zooming home with a :28.3 final quarter to win in 1:55.3.

Lislea Isabella ($6.40, $2.80) recovered from a break in stride down the stretch to finish second with trainer Stephen Schoeffel at her lines. The Lislea filly showed improvement off of her last start, closing in :28.4 for a mile in 1:56. Karl Schoeffel and Brian Stossel co-own the filly.

Warden Woodie ($2.60) held on for third in the $468.40 triple after cutting the mile. Manley Brown, Jr. trains the daughter of Allie’s Western for owner Frederick Kessell.

JJ’S Artiscape wires field of Open pacers

JJ’s Artiscape ($8.60, $2.20, $2.20) paced unchallenged through the mile, notching his ninth win of the year in the $9,000 Open I Pace on Tuesday.

The 6-year-old Artiscape gelding, trained by Bob “Doc” Davison, Jr., left the gate from post two to take the lead before the quarter. Driver Donnie Russell guided the talented pacer through fractions of :28.2, :56.2 and 1:24 to win by a half-length in 1:52. JJ’s Artiscape set a new seasonal record with this victory for owners Mayanne Karmin and Sydell Stone.

The top betting choice, Crazy For Ever ($2.10, $3.00), was unable to get by JJ’s Artiscape in the passing lane. Driven by Frank Milby for owner George Bartlett, the 6-year-old Life Sign gelding closed with a sharp :27.4 last quarter to finish behind the winner. Last week, Crazy For Ever wired a similar field in 1:52.2. Alvin Mindel and trainer George Bartlett co-own the winner of nearly $300,000 lifetime.

After around eight months off, Racing Naked ($3.80) came back to finish third. Securing a spot along the rail in front of driver Corey Callahan, the 7-year-old Misfit stallion settled for an easy trip to finish 3-1/4 lengths off of JJ’s Artiscape. Trained by John Sumner for owner William Camp, the horse paced the mile in 1:52.3.

The trifecta, coming in 2-3-1, paid $26.40.

Harness racing action returns to the Rosecroft oval on Saturday (July 28) at 7:20 p.m.