Fort Washington, MD – Mark Howard’s Sheer Terror took full advantage of a pocket trip and lifted up the open stretch to collar Leonard’s Legacy in the final yards of a 1:51.4 mile to win Monday’s (Nov. 24) $12,000 Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway.
With Jonathan Roberts at the lines for trainer Willard Reynolds, even-money favorite Sheer Terror secured a pocket ride behind Leonard’s Legacy (driven by Tim Deaton) through early splits of :26.3 and :56. As the pace picked up through a :27.2 third quarter thanks to Spring Blake (Russell Foster) applying first-over pressure to Leonard’s Legacy, Sheer Terror tightened in the pocket behind Deaton’s helmet before unleashing his winning move up the open stretch. The 5-year-old Always B Miki-Economy Terror gelding switched into high gear with 100 yards remaining and defeated Leonard’s Legacy by a widening length; Spring Blake finished a game third.
Sheer Terror, now a 23-time winner in his career with $215,510 in earnings, paid $4.20 to win.
Roberts, Reynolds and Howard also took the sub-featured $10,000 top-level conditioned pace with On The Cards N, who rode the pocket to a 1-3/4-length, 1:53 victory over Frontier Rollo.
Roberts and Foster finished the 13-race card with four driving wins apiece.
Live racing at Rosecroft resumes Monday (Dec. 1) with a $2,123.54 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5 (race 10). First post is 7:15 p.m. (EST).