from Hollywood Dayton Raceway

Dayton, OH —– Rosemary Rose took full advantage of a rail post position draw at Northfield Park last week to capture the $60,000 Ohio Sires Stakes championship for older pacing mares. The 4-year-old daughter of Foreclosure N seconded the notion that she is the best active older Buckeye-bred distaff pacer by winning the $17,500 Mares Open at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on Friday night (Oct. 12) in convincing fashion.

Conrad photo

Rosemary Rose dominated the open mares at Hollywood Dayton Raceway on Friday night, winning the distaff open in 1:53.1.

Driver Chris Page elected to ease the winner from the starting gate, getting away sixth in the seven-horse field through an opening quarter in :27.1. Safe From Terror (Aaron Merriman), riding an impressive local two-race win streak, was parked out three-wide around the first turn before clearing to the lead just strides past the initial timing station.

Gone Girl (Jeremy Smith) relinquished the lead to sit in the pocket through middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:24.1 over the rain-soaked racing strip. Rosemary Rose began her assault on the leaders while passing the grandstand the first time on the five-eighths-mile oval. She moved up to fifth on the outside at the half and advanced to fourth in second-over position at the three-quarter-mile mark.

Swinging three-wide halfway through the final turn, Rosemary Rose and Page dominated in the stretch — pulling away to an open length victory over longshot Gone Girl in 1:53.1. Safe From Terror held on to garner the show dough.

Ron Burke trains Rosemary Rose and co-owns her with Jason Melillo and Weaver Bruscemi. She has now banked $123,000 this season with eight wins and earned $389,000 lifetime.

The feature race win was one of three for Chris Page, who also won with Party At The Banks ($3.20) for trainer Ron Burke and Skyway Willie ($8.00) for conditioner Ray Farmer.

Racing resumes at Hollywood Gaming at Dayton Raceway on Saturday night (Oct. 13) with a 6:15 p.m. post time.