By Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

FT. WASHINGTON, MD – The Showcase of Champions, held Saturday night at Rosecroft Raceway, highlighted the talents of local two- and three-year-old trotters and pacers in eight divisions of the Maryland Sire Stakes finals.

Mandas Mistyclover [$2.40, $2.20, $2.10], a three-year-old trotting filly by Dedicated Yankee, earned her sixth seasonal win in the first race of the evening. Competing for a purse of $45,600, driver Cliff Green guided the filly through fractions of 30.2, 1:01.2 and 1:31.2 to win in 2:02.3 by over twelve lengths. Owned by Donnie and Nancy Drewer, Mandas Mistyclover hails from the training barn of Darryle Dennis. Beautiful Dreamer [$5.80, $2.20] was second for driver Corey Braden and Whitesville Filly [$2.20], reined by David Hill III, and made a strong recovery after breaking stride for third in the $23.20 trifecta.

Racing for $48,800, the tough three-year-old pacing colts and geldings were up next. Even-money choice The Deputy Is Home made an unfortunate miscue at the gate with Victor Kirby in the sulky, and valiantly attempted to recover. However, after a tough first-over brush, the Shotgun Scott colt faded in the stretch and succumbed to winner Headline News [$15.80, $5.40, $3.00]. Driven by Jonathan Roberts, Headline News took the lead immediately off of the gate to wire the field in 1:52.3. Setting a new lifetime mark, the Nuclear High colt was outstanding in his fourth seasonal win. Richard Hans trains Headline News for owner Michael Hans. Control Freak [$3.20, $2.80] and Donnie Russell held for second, while Man He Can Go [$5.40] and John Wagner finished third in the $180.80 triple.

Perhaps one of the most exciting races of the evening was in the fourth worth $46,900 for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. Both even money at post time, Honolulu Hunk [$2.10, $2.10] (Jerry Nock) and Misty Moonlight [$4.20, $2.20, $2.10] (John Wagner) have been dueling through each of the preliminary stakes races. As the gate unfolded, Honolulu Hunk broke stride and Misty Moonlight grabbed the lead. After falling several lengths behind, Honolulu Hunk, a Program Speed colt, came first over to eventually gain the lead in the stretch, but Misty Moonlight, a gelding by Go Get Lost, took advantage of the other colt’s tough trip and snuck up the passing lane to win by a length. Sonofafrica [$6.60] and driver Mark Clark finished third in the $30.00 trifecta.

Later in the evening, the two-year-old filly trotters vied for a purse of $45,300. After two of the favorites broke stride, Secret Impression [$7.80, $3.40, $4.00] took advantage of the situation and gained the lead with a bold quarter-pole move. Driven by John Wagner, the Go Get Lost filly won the race by nine and a half lengths in 2:03.0. Manley Brown Jr. trains the filly for owner Pamela Wagner. Teenie Beanie [$9.00, $8.20] was second with owner/trainer Syl King Jr. at her lines while Struttin Gabi [$8.80] closed for third in front of driver Bill Long.

Justasplashofwhite [$2.10, $2.10, $2.10] won as expected in the $47,000 race for two-year-old pacing fillies. The daughter of Shotgun Scott, owned by the partnership of Charlene and Danyell Long, Leslie Regan and Carlie Long, drew away by over 13 lengths to win in 1:55.2. The filly, trained by Jeff Long, now has a perfect seven for seven lifetime record. Two outside horses completed the $188.60 trifecta; Tell Hillary [$4.20, $5.40] and driver Donnie Russell crossed under the wire second while Tidewater Gee Gee [$5.60] and Bill Long finished third.

In race nine, a $45,500 division for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters, favorite High Five [$3.20, $2.60, $2.10] gave driver John Wagner his third stakes victory of the night. The son of Go Get Lost, owned by Scott Woogen and trained by Gary Messenger, won easily by two and a half lengths in 2:04.1. Go Get Jacqui [$6.60, $3.20] showed improvement for trainer/driver Syl King Jr. to close for second late in the stretch and Magic Mountain [$3.00], reined by Corey Braden, was third. The trifecta paid out $94.90.

Southern Myles [$2.60, $2.20, $2.10] was an easy winner in the $46,600 division for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The Nuclear High colt, trained by Richard Hans for owner Gerald Kelly, wired the field in 1:55.0. Driven by Jonathan Roberts, Southern Myles now has eight lifetime wins from 13 starts. The $241.40 trifecta was evened out by Western Sizzler [$7.00, $5.80] and driver Donnie Russell for second as well as Windswept Valley [$11.60] and driver Corey Braden for third.

Rounding out the evening of exciting stakes races was the $47,300 division for three-year-old pacing fillies. John Wagner earned yet another win with Masterman filly Taylors Lady [$3.00, $2.20]. Racing for owners Dennis Walls and Jeff Clark, Taylors Lady left the gate from post six and paced wire-to-wire in 1:55.0. Meant To Be [$3.80], driven by Victor Kirby, finished second after sitting in the pocket and Colken (Corey Braden) fired home on the outside for third. The trifecta returned $143.60.

Rosecroft Raceway will take a month-long break while Colonial Downs is open, and will resume live racing on Tuesday, October 17. The remainder of the meet will continue through December 16 with racing on Tuesdays (5:35 p.m. post) and Saturdays (7:20 p.m. post).