Ft. Washington, MD — Trainer-driver Frank Milby and Romantic Interest simply love the surface at Rosecroft. Dating back to last year, Romantic Interest has won seven straight appearances in the Open Handicap Pace, simmering the hopes of seven other pacers Sunday night (March 8) in 1:52.2.

Allan Davis left hard with Mako Banner N and stretched out Romantic Interest as best as he could, parking him past the quarter in :26.3. As always, despite an outside post, Milby and his charge were never headed. Rock N’ Roll Jet rallied for third.

Candy Milby owns the 5-year-old son of Always A Virgin who won for the fifth time in eight starts in 2020.

It was one of three wins on the night for Frank Milby. Another from his barn, Artic Adventure, scored in 1:52.3. The winner is also owned by Candy Milby. Frank Milby won with Jet Aviation in the claiming ranks for owner-trainer Brian Callahan in 1:54, establishing a new lifetime mark.

Jonathan Roberts won two races for his sister, trainer Megan Roberts, as Uncle Coz won in 1:53.1 and Rocktavious out sprinted his foes in 1:53.4.

Driver Mark Gray nabbed a pair of wins and returned good dollars for the backing. Gray won the opener in 1:53.4 at 22-1 odds with Rocknroll Ace and then scored a stunning pari-mutuel upset with BP Burner, who was 4-1 on the morning line but escaped the public’s backing at 15-1. BP Burner, who always comes from off the pace, followed the cover of Simple Man to the lead eventually and scored in 1:54.3 for co-owner/trainer James Brown and co-owner Sandra Simpson.

Allan Davis scored a pair of wins, the most impressive with Toms Tarzan, who fought off constant pressure the entire mile and held off the ground saving Atomic Art by a neck in 1:54.3 for trainer Brian Wright and owners Jeff Beauchamp and Ron Short.

Davis’ other win came with Wheres My Money, who was a beaten favorite, finishing second for three straight weeks. He’s now won three straight for owner-trainer Howard Birney and posted a lifetime best 1:55.1 in winning by three lengths.

One of the most improved horses at the Winter-Spring meet has been Sunburst Its, now owned by William Simmons Sr. and trained and driven by Eric Davis. The 4-year-old Tellitlikeitis gelding sizzled home in :27.2 to a new mark of 1:52.2.