Fort Washington, MD — A week after posting the fastest win time of the current Rosecroft Raceway meet with a 1:49 victory in a conditioned pace, Sheer Terror again cracked the 1:50 barrier on Monday (April 28), holding off Don’tmesswithles for a 1:49.4 score in the $12,000 Open Pace and kicking off a five-win night for driver Jonathan Roberts.
Sent off the 2-5 favorite, Sheer Terror pushed three-wide on the first turn to clear Don’tmesswithles (Roger Plante Jr.) and a retreating Water Sports Teen (William Carter) through a :26 first quarter. Sheer Terror, who controlled middle splits of :53.3 and 1:21.2, easily turned aside a mild outside challenge from Don’tmesswithles entering the far turn but had to work harder in the homestretch as his pocket rival took better aim up the open stretch.
The 5-year-old Always B Miki-Economy Terror gelding dug in to prevail, keeping Don’tmesswithles at bay by a diminishing neck. Shethinksistilcare (Russell Foster) rallied mildly up the inside to take third, another five lengths in arrears.
Willard Reynolds trains 13-time winner Sheer Terror, who paid $2.80 to win, for Mark Howard.
Roberts also won with Manaccount (1:54, $4.20), R N B Band (1:53, $6.20), Dragon Hunter (1:54.1, $37.20) and Chalk Hanover (1:50.4, $4.00).
Live racing returns to Rosecroft on Wednesday (April 30); the program features the first round of the Maryland Sire Stakes for 3-year-olds and a $2,514.35 Jackpot Hi-5 carryover in race 10. First post for the 13-race pari-mutuel card is 7:15 p.m. (EDT); a pair of non-wagering stakes events are slated for 6:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.