Thursday Rosecroft Card Highlights Both Breeds

In a sense the Thursday card at Rosecroft Raceway should offer something for thoroughbred and standardbred racing fans alike as the five-eighths mile oval will be the home of the Maryland Horse Council's annual "Evening At The Races" which will offer something for fans of both breeds just two days before Laurel Park hosts the 31st edition of the Maryland Million Day.

Thursday's card at Rosecroft will kick off at 6 with the Maryland Horse Council offering a special buffet in the dining room and guest speakers that will include Maryland native Corey Callahan, one of the sport's leading drivers with nearly 5,000 wins to his credit and earnings of nearly $70 million, and Maryland Jockey Club President and General Manager Sal Sinatra.

Thursday's opener, a non-winners of $2500 last five starts class for pacing fillies and mares, will be decided among railbound Pearl Handlepistol (Jonathan Roberts), Quik To Fool You (Frank Milby), Proud Maryet (David Hill, III) and Shaker Rei (John Gazzerro). Both Pearl Handlepistol and Shaker Rei should have a fitness edge over their other two foes since both raced late week. Shaker Rei is also dropping in class and should be able to work out a trip from post seven.

Then three races later in a non-winners of three races lifetime event for pacing fillies and mares honoring the Maryland Horse Council guests, Coming Out On Top (Russell Foster) seeks her second straight score and third win in her last four outings here for trainer Roger Hans. Best Of Dali (William Carter), a winner two starts back in 1:58 for owner-trainer Brian Tomlinson, will leave from post three and Spin A Dream (Milby) should be able to be in contention throughout from post nine in the second tier.

Then one race later in the $12,000 Filly-Mare Open Handicap for pacing distaffers, the durable and classy Springforth (Milby) seeks her second straight score in this event for owner-trainer Jeff Clark, but she will have to overcome her assigned seven hole to prevail. The six-year-old Artiscape mare sports a solid 5-9-3 slate and $100,000 bankroll from 25 starts this year and she owns a 21-27-10 slate and $417,000 banked from 98 career tries.

But just to her inside is Dublin Rose (Roberts) who has been first, second and third in her three starts locally in this affair for trainer Michael Hall and will once again leave with the goal of cutting the entire mile and perhaps outkicking Springforth in the lane. Sweet Bobbie (Jason Thompson) was the winner of this event two starts back for owner-trainer Gary Ewing of Ge's Romanero and Ge's Karla fame, while Valentina De Vie (Henrik Lundell) has always performed well over this oval.

Then two races later in a non-winners of $6000 last five starts class for pacing fillies and mares, Corona Again (Roberts) looms the solid choice despite post eight and facing older foes in her local debut for Hall. The three-year-old daughter of Dragon Again finished second in this event three starts back and most recently tried stakes foes in the Simpson at Harrah's Philadelphia. She sports a win in the B Handicap at Ocean Downs as the 2-5 choice.

Railbound Let Her Rock (Milby) exits the F-M Open where she was no match for that group and drops back into a conditoned event for trainer Bruce Saunders. She won two starts back in the non-winners of $4000 last five class here and will look to work out a trip behind Cape Marj (Roger Plante, Jr.). Cedar Hall Princess (Jason Green) rallied from well off the pace to win in 1:53.2 here two starts back at the non-winners of $4000 last five level.

Then two races later in a non-winners of five races lifetime event for pacing fillies and mares, railbound Chaxiraxi Hanover (Milby), Breadcrumb Income (Brian Burton), Philly Fanatic (Carter) and Toms Treasure (Foster) should all have chances to prevail. Chaxiraxi Hanover invades from Harrah's Philadelphia for trainer Eli Scott, Jr., while Breadcrumb Income won last out by two lengths in 1:53.3 at this level, with Philly Fanatic seeking her second straight score and fourth win in five starts at the meet for owner-trainer James Whalen, Jr. of Varsity Hanover fame. Toms Treasure won two starts back in 1:53.1 then was fourth as the odds-on choice last week and could make amends here.

Then three races later in the finale, a non-winners of four races or $15,000 lifetime class for pacing fillies and mares, Fastestgirlaround (Milby) will seek to atone for a third-place finish as the 6-5 favorite at this level last week for trainer Tony Sapienza and owner-breeder Gloria Kinnamon when she leaves from post seven. The multiple Maryland Sire Stakes champion of her division, the three-year-old daughter of Dontloseyourdayjob has won 10 of 13 starts this year and 15 of 22 career tries and gets the nod over fellow sophomores Motel Molly (Mark Gray) and Cell Phone Hanover (Jared Moyer).