by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway
Ft. Washington, MD — Roger Plante scored five wins on the Wednesday night (April 25) card at Rosecroft Raceway, while Ricky Still continued a hot meet for the Bounds Racing Stable as Upfront Supersonic won the feature for mares.
Still sent the 5-year-old Dragon Again mare to the lead just past the quarter pole and held off a fast closing Breadcrumb Income (Brian Burton) and Rhapsody Rose (Frank Milby) in 1:54.1. It was the eighth win of the season for owner-trainer Brittany Bounds and the third for Upfront Supersonic in her last four starts.
Plante ended a season of frustration for Cousin Brucie, a beaten favorite multiple times, multiple miles under 1:53 and nothing to show for it in 13 starts in 2018. Caught third wide as they passed three-quarters, Plante called on his charge and he responded in 1:53.2 over White Fish Flash (Still) and BP Burner (Wayne Long). Eric Good owns the 6-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover in the barn of trainer Trevor Stafford.
Plante also won with Paydayze On The Way for Kevin Fitzgerals, No County for Kerry Welty, Cheyenne Zone for Carolin Oglesby, and Tom’s Trophy for Tom Cooke.
Milby had a driving double highlighted by a great renewal of the Maryland Sires Stakes rivalry between Al Carter’s Princess Rusty and Miss Choptank. Both took significant wins as 2-year-olds last year and Wednesday night Princess Rusty survived an overland challenge from Gene Long and Miss Choptank in 1:53.3. Milby also won with Peter Paul Venturini’s Ms Independence PV for trainer Brian Malone.