by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway
Ft. Washington, MD — Soto ($13.60) has slugged it out on the East Coast against some of the best Open pacers of the past couple of racing seasons. Sunday night (Oct. 7) at Rosecroft, the 6-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven stallion took the $12,000 Gene Bassett Memorial Open in 1:50.1.
Russell Foster guided the Eric Ell trainee for Kenny Wood, William Dittmar and Steve Iaquinta to the front and he out-sprinted pocket sitter Hickory Aloha (Timmy Offutt) and Rocktavious (Jonathan Roberts) for his seventh win of the year. The mark of 1:50.1 was a season’s best and his lifetime earnings now sit at $550,415.
Foster picked up another win with Beach Art ($7.40) for Arty Foster III and trainer Arty Foster.
Jonathan Roberts had a grand slam on the card. He won the first three races of the night. JP Oscar ($4.00) rewarded owner Robert Pulley and trainer Sheldon Powell with his third win in four starts since coming to Maryland.
Fashion Smile ($7.80) took the $9,000 Winners Over Trot for William De Lodovico and trainer Megan Roberts in 1:54.4. It was his 10th win in 20 starts this year.
Roberts then nailed a conditioned field with a gate-to-wire score on Beammeupscottie ($3.40) who teleported to the winner’s circle for Gloria Kinnamon and trainer George Sweitzer in 1:52.2.
Roberts’ final win came aboard Outstand Forever ($33.20) who closed from way back to nail pacesetter Bro Hanover (Sean Bier) by a nostril in 1:50.4 for Jeff Beauchamp and Ronald Short. Brian Wright conditions the winner who set a lifetime best in his sixth win of the year.
Sean Bier notched a double with Turtle Gone Wild ($10.00) for owner-trainer Brian Tomlinson in 1:54.3; Bier then guided Mr Big Bucks ($4.20) to a win in 1:54.1 for owner Chris Devine and trainer Jason Walters.
Jason Green posted a double, sending Egosandattitudes ($4.80) to a win for the Graham Grace Stables and trainer Sofia Zingale in 1:55.2. His second win came with JJ Newton ($4.00) for owner-trainer Wendi Buxton in 1:55.
Frank Milby swept the late double as Kotare Yael N ($4.60) was a beast on the front end, scoring in 1:50.1 for owner Corey Braden and trainer Stacey McLenaghan. It was a lifetime best for the son of Mach Three. In the finale, Milby and Cash Is King ($3.20) held off a fast closing Jacks After Hours for the win for Breakaway Racing, Bounacelli Racing and Lance Hood. Shaun Callahan trains the son of Rocknroll Hanover.
Kim Vincent and Coaster rewarded backers to the tune of $25.00 as he coasted by the field from last to first in the final quarter for Dawn Webb and owner trainer Buddy Bright.