Ft. Washington, MD — When Frank Milby and Bet The Aces won the final race on the card on June 28, 2008, no one knew if Rosecoft Raceway would ever return.

The track resumed racing in 2011, and now under the direction of the Maryland Jockey Club, the track is enjoying a renaissance in the fall of 2019, as Wednesday night’s (Oct. 2) handle was the highest since the return of live product and continues to improve nightly in the fall meet.

Brian Burton stole the $12,000 Open for Mares feature on the front end at odds of 19-1 with Heart Of The Ocean, winning by 3-1/2 lengths in 1:51.4 for the Let It Ride Stables and trainer Michael Hall. The winner paid a nice $41.60 for her backers.

Burton cut fractions of :26.2, :55, 1:23, and held off favored Cruzinforavictory who was stalled fourth over behind stale cover. Rowdy Patti was third.

Milby won three races on Wednesday night. His first win came with Kevin Shaplin’s new acquisition Vegas Highroller ($5.00) who won in 1:57 for trainer Greg Trotto. Annual Reward ($9.20) exited the pylons on the final turn and stormed home in 1:55.2 for owner Joseph Plummer and trainer Jason Walters. Favored Candy Stash ($6.40) held off Whitesville Deb in 1:58.4 to give Milby the hat trick for owner Tom Cooke and trainer Ken Schlotzhauer.

Driver Jonathan Roberts took the late double, scoring with Rocket Rhonda for owner-trainer Brian Callahan and lit up the board with The Illuminator at 23-1 for owner Janet Burris and trainer Lewis Nunes.

Jared Moyer notched a double, as he scored with Zoe’s Fortune ($6.00) for owner John Wagner and trainer Arlene Cameron, while Pop Writer ($6.00) posed in the winner’s circle with Moyer for owners Hunter N Colton and Megan Roberts (who also trains) after a mile in 1:54.1.

Roger Plante Jr. won the opener with trotter Master Clave ($11.00) for owner Benjamin Brooks and trainer Darren Ferrell in 1:56.4. Plante won with odds on favorite Final Escape ($3.00) for owners Steve LeBlanc (the trainer), Doug Johnson and Glenn Dyke.

Live racing continues Sunday night at 7:15 p.m. (EDT).