by Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Publicity Office

Ft. Washington, MD — Both the Open Trot and Pace, each worth $10,000, were topped by the betting favorites on Monday evening (April 9) at Rosecroft Raceway.

The night opened with the trot in the first race, where Four Starz Robro ($2.40, $2.20, $2.20) proved once again that he is best on the Maryland oval. The 5-year-old Conway Hall horse, driven to the win by Corey Braden, grabbed the lead immediately before the quarter pole. Trained by Judy Welty, Four Starz Robro trotted smoothly through fractions of :28.3, :58.2 and 1:26.4 to win his fifth start of the year with a mile timed in 1:56. Kelley Rogers owns the winner of over $150,000 lifetime.

Done Dreamen ($16.60, $10.60) worked out a good trip along the inside for second with Jonathan Roberts in the sulky. Leaving the gate from post position two, the 4-year-old Donerail gelding held on in the stretch at 50-1 odds. “Bib” Roberts trains the gelding for himself and co-owners Ed Nelson and William Conn.

Third in the $172.80 trifecta was another longshot; at 25-1 odds, TV Show Kosmos ($4.40) rallied up the lane for trainer-driver Joe Offutt. The 9-year-old son of S J’s Photo is co-owned by Offutt and his son Chris.

The Open Pace challenged the winner a bit more. JJ’s Artiscape ($4.40, $2.80, $2.20) was forced to fight traffic in the stretch for his fifth win of the season.

Early on in the race, several horses left for the lead including veteran campaigner Dixie Pride (Joe Offutt), who was parked to the quarter in :27 from post seven. Dixie Pride gained the lead, but was quickly shuffled back by Blissfull Silence (Trevor Stafford).

Blissfull Silence, a 6-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding owned, trained and driven by Stafford, cut middle quarters of :55.4 and 1:24.3 before giving way in the stretch.

After the three-quarter pole, JJ’s Artiscape made a three-wide bid for the lead under the guidance of driver Donnie Russell to win by a nose in 1:54. Trained by “Doc” Davison, Jr., the 6-year-old gelded son of Artiscape races for co-owners Mayanne Karmin and Sydell Stone. Regular reinsman of JJ’s Artiscape, Corey Callahan, was absent from Rosecroft on Monday due to a drive in the Trotting Classic at Dover Downs with Elvis Cole.

Up for second in the Open Pace were Sleep Easy ($3.80, $2.80) and driver Jonathan Roberts. The 5-year-old Dream Away horse, co-owned by Tom Cooke and trainer Roger Hans, squeezed through horses in the stretch to get up by less than a length.

Crazy For Ever ($2.40), returning from The Meadowlands, finished third with Frank Milby at his lines. The 6-year-old Life Sign gelding paced wide in the stretch for co-owners Alvin Mindel and George Bartlett, who also trains.

The 4-1-3 trifecta paid $84.40.

Live racing returns to the Rosecroft oval on Saturday, April 14, and post time is set for 7:20 p.m.