Rosecroft honors top horses

On the same night that the national champion trotters were announced, Rosecroft honored its horse of the meet winners.

Varsity Hanover, a six-year-old Modern Art gelding owned and trained by James Whalen, jr., won four of 12 starts and earned nearly $29,000 at the meet and was the choice for fall meet champion by track management.

Hi Sir, a seven-year-old Sir Luck gelding owned, trained and driven by Russell Foster, won four of 10 starts and earned $37,000. He was selected as the Rosecroft fall meet champ by the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the United States Harness Writers Association.

But on the night those horses were honored for dominating the top class throughout the meet it was Hot Art (Jared Moyer) who took no prisoners early and led throughout to score in 1:52 for owner-trainer John Baxter. A former USHWA selection as Rosecroft overnight champ, Hot Art posted his ninth win in 24 starts this year and pushed his seasonal earnings past $55,000.

Then one race later on the card Fashion Smile (Jonathan Roberts) continued his winning ways by taking the Open 2 for trotters in 1:54.4. A four-year-old Broadway Hall gelding trained by Megan Roberts, Fashion Smile has won three of his last four starts and now sports a 7-7-4 slate and $45,000 bankroll from 28 starts this year.

Then one race later in the $10,000 Open 2 for pacers, Beammupscottie (Jason Thompson) benefited from a perfect pocket trip, angled to the passing lane and prevailed at 18-1 in 1:52. A five-year-old Rustler Hanover gelding trained by Brian Fisher, 'Scottie' now sports a 6-5-3 slate and $41,000 bankroll from 31 starts this year.

There were few surprises among the national trotting champions announced earlier that day. Southwind Frank (2yoct), Broadway Donna (2yoft), Pinkman (3yoct), Mission Brief (3yoft), JL Cruze (older male) and Bee A Magician (older mare) all won their respective divisions handily. Pinkman is the favorite to garner trotter of the year.