by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway

Ft. Washington, MD — Closing night at Rosecroft Raceway on Wednesday (May 30) produced some exciting Maryland Sires Stakes action with records falling by the wayside.

In the $67,000 final for 3-year-old filly pacers, Miss Choptank, a Total Truth offspring, went four-wide off the final turn and sprinted past Princess Rusty (Jonathan Roberts) who sat the pocket and Rissy’s All In (John Wagner) to win in a lifetime best 1:52.3. Victor Kirby piloted the winner for trainer Wayne Givens and the filly is owned by Legacy Racing of Delaware and Stephen Townsend.

Allie’s Finale has been the class in Maryland in his colt and gelding group since the start of last year’s stakes. Wednesday night, the son of Allie’s Western went off as the second choice in his $67,000 final, but didn’t finish second at the wire, wearing down pacesetter BT’s Breeze (Kirby) and edging out the ground saving Bo Breeze (Corey Callahan) in 1:51.4 for driver Roger Plante who has flawlessly handled the winner through 14 starts with 10 wins now to his credit. Trainer Steve LeBlanc co owns with Count De Money Stable, William Lutz and James Stuart. They are counting the money indeed as Allie’s Western went over $100,000 in lifetime earnings.

In two non-wagering races before the start of the card, Corey Callahan swept the trotting events for $67,000 each. Callahan won with Chucky De Vie in the colt division in 1:55.1, and his own Gaagaa Gone in the filly division.

In the colt division, all eyes were on What That Is, who had won seven straight and set a new standard for geldings along the way. Brian Burton hustled him to the front through a contested :27.4 opening quarter. As they turned for home it became a sprint between the new leader, Chucky De Vie, and his main rival of late, Uncle Ike (Frank Milby), who finished second. The eventual winner has overcome some soreness issues this year and gave his best at the perfect time. Hermann Heitmann conditions Chucky De Vie for the Joie De Vie Farm and Paul Nigito. The winner posted a lifetime best 1:55.1.

Callahan then guided his homebred filly Gaagaa Gone to a wire-to-wire score, setting a new stakes record of 1:56.2 in the process. Shaun Callahan trains for his brother and the Googoo Gaagaa offspring has won 11 races in 14 starts now with earnings of $84,697.

Act Like A Diva won the $8,500 feature for mares for Russell Foster in 1:52 for owner-trainer Michael Hall.

Frank Milby was honored as the dash champion, Arlene Cameron as the leading trainer. Fashion Smile was tabbed trotter of the meet and Capital Builder the pacer of the meet. Both horses are trained by Megan Roberts.