by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Nuclear Breeze ($2.10, $2.10, $2.10) set an overall world record for pacers on a five-eighths-mile track in the $10,000 top level Open event at Rosecroft Raceway on Monday evening (July 9), crushing the field in a blistering 1:48.2.

The prior world record of 1:48.3 was held by both Maltese Artist (Dover Downs, Ron Pierce, 2005) and Casimir Camotion (Dover Downs, Brian Sears, 2006).

The 5-year-old Nuclear High horse sizzled through fractions of :26.1, :53.3 and 1:20.1 with Jim Morand at his lines, drawing off by over 11 lengths to notch his fourth seasonal win from eight starts. The earner of over $350,000 lifetime races for owner Tom Cooke of Rockville, Md. and is trained by Roger Hans.

“It was quite an evening,” owner Tom Cooke recapped when asked about the horse’s outstanding performance. “One of the most exciting parts was to see the fellow horsemen jumping up and down for him.”

“One of the first things I did after the race was call Dr. Riddle; he was the vet who treated him for the splint bone (last year),” Cooke continued. “We’re going to take him (Nuclear Breeze) out there today so he can give him a thorough check up. The horse came out of the race good, Roger (Hans, trainer) had to get him back to the barn quickly to get water in him because it was so incredibly hot out.”

“Assuming everything checks out, we’re headed to The Ben Franklin (free-for-all pace) at Chester Downs next,” Cooked mentioned. “The eliminations are this coming Sunday, and the final is the following Sunday.”

After that, Nuclear Breeze’s schedule includes the US Pacing Championship at The Meadowlands, The Chesapeake Bay Series at Ocean Downs, the Winbak Farm Pace during Jug week and the Bobby Quillen Memorial at Harrington Raceway.

“That’s our short term, ambitious schedule,” Cooke said. “We’re expecting to race the big boys at Chester this year.”

Cooke is sure Nuclear Breeze will be up to the challenge, though.

“He’s very, very fresh, on the top of his game. He reminds me so much of how fresh he was when he came back last fall, except he’s picked up the pace enormously.”

“Brian Sears said he’s capable of going in 1:47,” Cooke continued. “Time will tell.”

Sears drove Nuclear Breeze through his winning stint at The Meadowlands earlier this year.

“I’m so proud he’s Maryland bred, owned, everything,” Cooke concluded. “Maryland is capable of producing everything.”

Freshman pace to speedy victories

Three preliminary divisions of the Maryland Sires Stakes were held on Monday evening at Rosecroft, and talented 2-year-old pacers showed their stuff over the fast track.

In the first non-wagering event, Boss Outlaw quarter-poled for the lead after a :28.2 opening quarter to take the field home through fractions of :56.4, 1:25.3 and 1:54.1. Driven by Vic Kirby for owner-trainer James Coughlin, the JK Outlaw colt was sharp to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Higher Mark (Jonathan Roberts).

In the second early race, Quick Thinker grabbed the lead immediately off of the gate through quarters of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:26.1, winning by over two lengths in 1:55. Jim Morand was in the sulky for trainer Les Givens, and the Glowing Tribute colt carried the field to the wire with a :28.4 final quarter. Driver Morand co-owns the colt with Nanticoke Racing Inc.

The fillies were up in the second race of the wagering card, and Scotts Girl ($5.00, $2.80, $2.20) pulled first-over after the half with Vic Kirby in the bike to win by a nose in 1:56.2. Sitting fifth through early fractions of :28.3, :57.4 and 1:27, the daughter of Shotgun Scott closed alertly with a :29.1 last quarter. Shaun Callahan trains for owners Henry Faragalli, Arthur Feeney, Daniel Doane and Anthony Clark.

Warden Woodie ($3.00, $2.40) finished second after cutting the mile for driver John Wagner. The Allie’s Western filly, trained by Manley Brown, Jr. for owner Frederick Kessell, held strong to the wire in a game effort.

Third in the $85.60 trifecta was Simply Naked ($4.00), a Misfit filly owned by William Camp. Jonathan Roberts drove for trainer John Sumner.

Juanna Play Slots crushes trotting field

After sitting third through mild opening quarters, Juanna Play Slots ($20.60, $10.40, $4.80) tipped out first-over and drew away to win an $8,000 Open II trotting event by several lengths in a lifetime best of 1:57.

The 5-year-old Go Get Lost mare, co-owned by Gregg Morris and trainer Thomas Morris, Jr., was content along the rail through :28.3 and :59.2 early fractions. After the half, driver Frank Milby (Corey Braden was originally carded to drive, however, is laid up due to injuries sustained at Tioga Downs) pulled the mare first-over to clear with a vengeance, passing the three-quarter pole in 1:29. Juanna Play Slots drew away by several lengths and now has two consecutive victories on her card.

Mountain Breez ($11.40, $4.20) closed late in the mile for second with Chris Offutt at her lines. The 5-year-old S J’s Photo mare, owned by Anne McDonald, sat near the back of the pack through the early portion of the mile and made up late ground in the stretch. Joe Offutt trains the winner of around $130,000 lifetime.

Third in the $847.20 trifecta were Chippewa Warrior ($3.40) and driver John Wagner. Trotting first-over after Juanna Play Slots cleared the field, the 7-year-old Veeba Rova gelding came up the inside lane for the show spot.

Live racing continues this coming Saturday (July 14) at 7:20 p.m.