by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway
Ft. Washington, MD — Roger Plante and trainer Steve LeBlanc have made significant cash the past couple of seasons on the Maryland Sires Stakes circuit. Sunday night (Oct. 22), the duo’s latest young stars were impressive as Allie’s Finale and Hs Shauna copped Sires Stakes wins at Rosecroft.
Allie’s Finale, a 2-year-old pacing gelding by Allie’s Western, lowered his stakes record, cutting the mile in 1:53 for LeBlanc Racing, Count De Money Stable, William Lutz and James Stuart. Plante got him home in :27.4 to hold off pocket sitter Redline Rusty (Jonathan Roberts) and I Run This Show (Russell Foster) who made a solid first over bid in the $43,300 Wayne Smullin Memorial MSS final.
In the $42,425 Earl Wagner Memorial MSS final for 2-year-old pacing fillies, Plante brushed Hs Shauna to the lead after the half and she held off Miss Choptank (Victor Kirby) and Cool Toy (Jason Green) in 1:54. The daughter of Up Front Charlie is owned by breeder Cary Grady.
What That Is continued to blaze a trail of greatness, easily overcoming post seven to set a new track record for 2-year-old trotters, capturing the $45,400 Ralph Hayward Memorial MSS 2-year-old male trot final in 1:56. It eclipsed the mark of 1:56.1 by the great CR Kay Suzie which had stood since 1994.
Brian Burton drove the winner for owner Brian Emerson and trainer Judy Welty. He is another son of pacing sire Cam’s Rocket, who has sired previous champions like Googoo Gaagaa, Speed It, EI EI O, and Hybrid Henry on the trot. Judge Bob (Roberts) was second and No Drama De Vie (Frank Milby) was third.
The $42,400 Charlie Keller Memorial MSS 2-year-old filly trot final produced a mild upset, when Gaagaa Gone, a perfect six-for-six, went off stride at the start. Suddenly, the top prize was really up for grabs.
Allan Davis sat patiently fifth along the rail with Jas Going Away. The daughter of Charlie De Vie then exploded down the lane three wide to nail TV Sensation (Chris Offutt) and Iron Mine Krystal (Art Stafford Jr.) in a stakes record 1:57.2. Breeder Pamela Wagner owns the filly, trained by Arlene Cameron.
I Like My Boss (Kirby) set a new all-age track record for trotters, winning the Winners Over Trot in 1:53.3. The altered son of Don Boss Vita sat third on the rail behind Don Dorado and fraction-setting Baximum. While Baximum gave way, I like My Boss got up past the razor sharp Don Dorado (Stafford Jr.) and Dunn Dealin (Plante). The old mark was 1:53.4 set by Chinese Cuisine in 2014.
Timmy Offutt scorched the Fort Washington oval with Hickory Aloha in the Open Handicap Pace, leading at every call in 1:51.1. Setting a pace of :26.2, :55.1 and 1:23, the son of Village Jolt held off Rocktavious (Roberts) and Remember Me VK (Davis) by a head.
In 16 races of action, Plante and Foster posted three wins, while Milby and Timmy Offutt posted two each.