by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway

Ft. Washington, MD — Jonathan Roberts and Russell Foster combined for eight wins on the Sunday night (May 20) card at Rosecroft Raceway.

Roberts picked up five wins on the night. The most impressive came with trotter Fashion Smile. The 7-year-old son of Broadway Hall, trained by Megan Roberts, was parked the mile from post nine and simply would not be denied, eventually wearing down third place finisher Southwind Ferrari (John Wagner) and holding off second place finisher Playboy Buddy Rose in 1:55. William De Lodovico owns the four-time winner in 2018. He returned $10.00 to win.

Roberts won with Robbidobbi ($7.20), which gave Michael Hall a training double, Electric Connection ($7.60), Rocktavious ($3.00), which gave Megan Roberts a double, and Princess Rusty ($3.40) in Maryland Sires Stakes action.

Foster scored three wins on the card including the $11,000 Maryland Open as Hi Sir won an exciting sprint in the stretch with JW Renegade (John Mackinnon) in 1:51.2. Capital Builder (Roberts) surged to the lead after a :25.4 opening quarter, followed by splits of :54.1 and 1:22.4, before giving way to the fresh shooters in the final sixteenth of a mile.

Foster also won with Bluejeansnredwings ($5.00) for trainer Kyle Moore and owner Donald Marine and Last Shot Leeton ($5.80) for owner-trainer Eli Scott in the finale. The latter came in 1:52.4 in non-winners of $1,000 in their last five starts.

Roberts’ victory in the Maryland Sires Stakes with Princess Rusty came in a lifetime best 1:53, holding off a fast closing Cool Toy (Jason Green) and Plain Old Jane (Jared Moyer). The 3-year-old daughter of Rusty’s For Real is four-for-five in 2018 for Michael Hall.

HS Shauna sprinted gate-to-wire in 1:53 in the other 3-year-old filly division for Roger Plante. The daughter of Up Front Charlie is now two-for-three in 2018 and picked up her seventh career win for Cary Grady and trainer Joseph Carroll.

Uncle Ike ($13.00) has shown great improvement in the last two weeks. Last week he chased 3-year-old trotting powerhouse What It Is to the wire, missing by just over a length. Sunday night, he went by him on the way home up the passing lane in 1:56.2. Frank Milby has been in the bike in each of the last two starts for owners Terry Kibler, James Brown and Betsy Brown. The sophomore son of Charlie De Vie picked up his second lifetime win. Iron Mine Bro (Art Stafford Jr.) was third.