by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

FT. WASHINGTON, MD – Both the Maryland Sire Stakes and the Standardbred Race Funds are scheduled for Saturday at Rosecroft Raceway, and talented 2 and 3-year-olds will face off throughout the evening.

Several contenders will vie for top honors in the Maryland Sire Stakes preliminaries for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Two early, non-wagering races, each worth a purse of $3,000, are scheduled to kick-off the Saturday card.

The first race will bring Concertino (Kelly Staten), Descant (Vic Kirby), Erio Hanover (Joe Offutt), Misty Starlight (Syl King Jr.) and GB’sother Li’l Man (John Wagner) to the gate.

In the second event, Red Oaks Challenge (Charlie Norris), Dash For Cash (Donnie Russell), Misterio (“Bib” Roberts), Top Player (John Wagner) and Mr Crazy (Sam Belote) will go head-to-head for a purse of $3,000 in the preliminary race.

Trotting fillies are up in the first betting race, and Ornellix will attempt a repeat win at 7/5 morning line odds from post five. The daughter of Tejano, owned by Russell Williams of Pennsylvania, wired the field last week in 2:04.1, winning by over two lengths. Trainer Gary Cameron II has named Vic Kirby as driver once again.

The Syl King Jr. owner-entry of Brilliant Get Lost and No Love Lost are marked at 2/1 odds. Brilliant Get Lost, set to be driven by John Wagner from the rail, was second to Ornellix last week, while No Love Lost finished third with King Jr. at her lines. Both fillies, trainees of King Jr., are sired by Go Get Lost.

Jane B (Gary Messenger, 8/1), Flamenco Dancer (Betsy Brown, 8/1), ENS Snow Crystal (Todd Schadel, 8/1), Whitesville Donna (David Hill III, 10/1) and Night Energy (Matt Aukamp, 10/1) will also head to the gate.

In the $16,000 Maryland Standardbred Race Fund for 3-year-old pacing fillies, the Winbak Farm owner-entry of Double Flip and Wild Retreat is the 4/5 morning line choice. Double Flip, trying for her second consecutive victory, will have John Wagner at her lines from the rail. Sired by Badlands Hanover, the sophomore pacer is trained by Manley Brown Jr.

Wild Retreat, trained by Robert Coole, will start from post three with Jeff Fout in the bike. The Allamerican Ingot filly, owned by the Hutt Racing Stable, was second at Chester Downs last week in 1:55.0.

Others to consider are High Speed Racer (Corey Callahan, 6/1), Tell Hillary (Donnie Russell, 6/1), Goddess’s Angel (Frank Milby, 9/2), Thevoodoothatyoudo (Vic Kirby, 8/1) and Lady Down The Hall (Joe Offutt, 10/1).

In the other division for fillies also worth $16,000, both Honeyland (Vic Kirby, 9/5) and Betting Machine (Wayne Long, 8/5) are top contenders. Honeyland, set to start from post four, finished second to Double Flip at Harrington Raceway last week in 1:54.3. Josh Green trains the Badlands Hanover filly for owner John Celii.

Betting Machine, trained by George Teague Jr., won a division of the New York Sire Stakes at Vernon Downs recently in 1:53.3. The Bettor’s Delight filly continues to improve, and has hit the board five of eight starts this season. Wayne Long will drive for owners Only Money Inc. and Teague Inc., both of Delaware.

Spring Break (John Wagner, 3/1), Cell Power (Jeff Fout, 3/1), What A beauty (Pete Petershem, 15/1), Lisphia (Frank Milby, 6/1) and Here For The Party (Corey Callahan, 15/1) round out the pacers.

Post time for Saturday’s 15-race card is 7:20 p.m.