by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway

Ft. Washington, MD — In harness racing, there aren’t many things more enjoyable then when a homebred turns into a great horse. For George Leager, Slick Tony is turning into just that. The 3-year-old son of No Spin Zone out of the Cambest mare Queen Kathy showed a lot of guts on the front end Sunday (Sept. 30), taking the $12,000 Open at Rosecroft in a new lifetime mark of 1:50.2.

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Slick Tony was a winner in a new lifetime mark of 1:50.2.

Driver John Wagner had to out sprint both Hickory Aloha (Timmy Offutt) and All The Cookies (Tyler Davis) and finally cleared after being parked through a quarter of :26.2, then survived fractions of :54.4 and 1:22.3 before kicking home in :27.4 to win. His seasonal earnings now sit at $198,037. It was the eighth win of the year for the colt who has dominated Delaware Standardbred Fund company the past two seasons and also finished fourth in the $400,000 Carl Milstein Memorial.

Russell Foster took three wins on the night, winning conditioned events with B Fast Eddie ($4.60), Tom’s Titan ($7.80), and an exciting dead heat win with Pumped Up Kicks who looked beat but came back to get even with Girl Crazy and Kim Vincent. It was Vincent’s second win of the night after posting a win with Skywaybrenlinsfib paying $38.40.

Jonathan Roberts posted a double with JP Oscar ($2.60) and Rocktavius ($4.40) who won in an impressive 1:50.3.

Sean Bier swept the late double with a big time effort from Bro Hanover who was under attack from a parked out Da Chief (Zach Amiss) through a half of :54. He completed the journey in 1:52.2 for owner Crissy Crissman-Bier.

In the finale, Mr Big Bucks, a private purchase last week for Christopher Devine, rallied from third over off bad cover to score in 1:53.4 in a $4,000 claiming event. Jacks After Hours (Roberts) missed by a nose, while Missed Opportunity (Frank Milby) was third.

Timmy Offutt sprung an upset in the $9,000 winners over $6,000 last five pace, as Go Big Spinder closed stoutly up the inside to nip pacesetter OK Fantastic (Foster) in 1:52.2 and returned $27.40 for his backers for owner-trainer Leigh Louthan.

In the winners over trot, Don Dorado scored his second straight win as Allan Davis sent the son of Donato Hanover to the front and won in 1:55.3 for owners Harry Smith Jr. and Carolyn Smith. Andrew Fulton conditions the 17-time winner whose lifetime earnings go over $521,000.

Live racing continues Wednesday night with a 15-race card featuring four Maryland Sires Stakes 2-year-old finals with post time set for 6:40 p.m.