Ft. Washington, MD — Closing night at Rosecroft Raceway on Saturday (May 18) produced one of the fastest nights of racing in track history.

Track and stakes records fell like snowfall in January and likely will have the phones ringing at Fox Den Farm where sires Charlie De Vie, Lockkeeper, Rusty’s For Real and Rusty’s All in stand at stud.

Four $70,000 Maryland Sires Stakes finals were contested on the program. In the 3-year-old colt and gelding pace, Berzerker, driven by Tony Morgan, broke Mumbo King’s long standing record which had stood since 1998.

The son of Rusty’s For Real cleared past the opening quarter to the lead and hit the wire in 1:51.4. He is out of Brandon, Clifton and Wanda Murray’s mare Southern Viking.

A potential big time finish went by the wayside as Trump That Rusty was gaining momentum in the final turn and was taken up abruptly as Rockin The Shades, the pocket sitter, came off the pylons. Both had their momentum thwarted at that point, and after a lengthy review, Sonny’s Blessing (Jared Moyer) was placed second, Trump That Rusty (Eddie Davis Jr.) was placed third and Rockin The Shades was disqualified and moved from second to fourth.

Anna B was hardly threatened in the 3-year-old filly pace as she held off a mile threat by KJ Dr Michelle in 1:53. Frank Milby, who won the Rosecroft dash championship, drove the homebred filly of Roger Hans by Cam’s Rocket out of I’m A Treat.

The most remarkable race of the night came in the 3-year-old colt and gelding trot. Coming in, Fire’n Woodshed was a perfect four-for-four and the fastest gelding trotter in program history. In the $70,000 final, the heavy favorite trotted 1:53.4, and lost by a quarter-length to upstart Remarkable De Vie as Morgan closed on the outside and nipped the favorite, triggering a $344 exacta payout. Syl King Jr. conditions the son of Charlie De Vie for Steven Mullen. The win was a stakes and track record for age and gelded trotters and nearly broke the all-age track record of 1:53.3.

In the 3-year-old filly trot, stakes record holder HS Judy Jetson made breaks before each of the two starting attempts in this race and as the gate unfolded, suddenly all others who stayed on stride knew they had a chance for a big check. Leader Bossy Hilly gave way after taking the field through three-quarters and Eddie Davis Jr. launched a rally with Sleek N Majestic and dominated the final quarter-mile to win in a stakes record 1:54.3. Andrew Stafford trains the daughter of Charlie De Vie for owner Brian Martin.

Speed It and John Wagner set the new all-age track record for trotters as the former Maryland Sires Stakes champion trotted in 1:53 for owner-trainer Arlene Cameron.

Sitting fourth, Wagner tipped the Cam’s Rocket gelding three wide past Fashion Smile and Deacons Valley, who had slugged it out for the better part of three-quarters of a mile, to set the new mark.

It has been a tough spring so far for the speedy but misbehaving trotter who won for the second time this year in nine starts. It was career win 30 in 75 lifetime starts and his share of the $12,000 Open purse put his lifetime earnings at $333,334.

Wagner completed a sweep of the Opens, taking the Open Pace with Sam’s Triple Crown for owner-trainer Jerry Nock in 1:50.3. Wagner tipped to the outside out of the pocket to nip pacesetting Mckenry and give the 5-year-old son of Art Official his fourth win in 12 starts this year and his second open win in three weeks.

The fastest mile of the night went to Milby and Sonny At The Beach as he scooted up the pylons to nip Bodega Bay and Hickory Aloha in 1:50.1 for owner Bryan Truitt and trainer Bryan Truitt Jr.

Closing night provided a season high on track handle, multiple stakes and track records, and Milby and Cameron were honored as driver and trainer of the meet.

Fashion Smile was named trotter of the meet and Jack Quick, who won six times at Rosecroft this spring, was pacer of the meet.

Rosecroft reopens for live racing Sept. 8, where the Fall meet is highlighted by the $100,000 Potomac Pace Invitational.