by Dave Joseph, for Rosecroft Raceway

Fort Washington, MD — Rosecroft Raceway kicks off its four-month fall Standardbred race meet Sunday (Sept. 16) with three Maryland Sire Stakes, a 12-race program with two Open Pace events and the return of its Pacer of the Meet and Trotter of the Meet. First post is 4:40 p.m. First race post for the sire stakes is 3:30 p.m.

Rosecroft will race each Sunday and Wednesday with first race post time at 4:40 p.m. on Sunday and 7 p.m. Wednesday. There will also be a special Saturday program, Nov. 3 with a 7 p.m. first race post.

The third running of the $100,000 Potomac Pace will also be contested during the fall meet.

“We’re looking forward to a great fall meet at Rosecroft,” said Sal Sinatra, President and General Manager of the Maryland Jockey Club. “We continue to have a great partnership with the horsemen and breeders and we’re looking forward to building on the success of the Potomac Pace.”

Fashion Smile, named Trotter of the Meet earlier in the year, is entered in the first race Sunday. The 7-year-old will leave from the outside. Meanwhile, Capital Builder, the Pacer of the Meet, is entered in the second race, a $10,000 Open Pace. The eighth race on Sunday’s program will also be an Open Pace with, among others, AL’s Hammered, who has earned more than $500,000 in his career.

Driver Frank Milby, the leading driver in the spring, will be back to defend his title. Milby won 56 races earlier this year at Rosecroft, 13 more than runner-up Roger Plante Jr., Arlene Cameron who the training title with 23 winners, three more than Megan Roberts.