Ft. Washington, MD — John Wagner and Richard Hans have been dominant trainers in the Maryland Sires Stakes program in recent years. That trend continued for both Tuesday night (May 14) at Rosecroft, as Wagner trainees Geralds A Keeper and KJ Dash took the top two spots in the $87,500 colt and gelding trot for 3-year-olds.

The sons of Lockkeeper repeated similar trips from last week’s final preliminary and driver Trae Porter saw his charge set a lifetime best 1:56.4 on the engine. He is now three for four in 2024 for breeder and owner Pamela Wagner. War Pony, trained by Hans, was third.

In the filly trotting division, Hans’ Only I Exist fended off an improving Emily’s Locket to win for the ninth time in 10 lifetime starts. Russell Foster guided the Yall Beneath Me filly to the win in 2:00.3 and raised her lifetime earnings to $197,881.

Tony Babe and Jonathan Roberts won the MDSS final for 3-year-old colt and gelding pacers. Ted Black photo.

In the colt and gelding pacing category, Tony Babe pulled an 11-1 shocker for Jonathan Roberts in 1:53.3. The son of Rusty’s For Real joins stablemate Babes All In as a sophomore champion. Ron Short owns and trains the winner who won for the second time in 14 lifetime starts. Firecrackergraham was second and Petes For Real was third.

Fancy Like That continued her winning ways in the filly pacing field of five as she cruised to a win in 1:53.3 for Johnathan Ahle, setting a new lifetime mark in the process with her 11th win in 19 career starts. Kasey Bendix trains the daughter of Rusty’s For Real and co-owns the filly with Virginia Marvel.

Crossfit Mouse and Corey Braden won the $11,000 Open Handicap Trot in 1:57.4 for trainer Stacey McLenaghan.

Porter won four times on the card and Ahle and Foster won three times each. Ahle leads Porter for the top spot in the driving standings, 77-71, heading to Saturday’s final night of the meet with post time of 7:15 p.m.