Roberts rolls a seven in Rosecroft finale

FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — All but assured the driving premiership at Rosecroft Raceway’s winter-spring meet heading into Sunday’s (May 18) closing-day program, Jonathan Roberts finished with a flourish, piloting seven winners on the 13-race card, including Sheer Terror in the featured $12,000 Open Handicap Pace.

SHEER TERROR REPLAY

The 5-year-old Always B Miki gelding pushed clear of Don’tmesswithles (driven by Roger Plante Jr.) at the end of a :26 first quarter before controlling middle splits of :55.2 and 1:22.3 unopposed. Cornering for home, Sheer Terror faced an outside challenge from Don’tmesswithles while Business Director (Russell Foster) took aim up the open stretch. Sheer Terror remained resolute in victory, defeating Don’tmesswithles by three-quarters of a length in 1:51. Business Director made belated inroads up the pegs to preserve third.

Willard Reynolds trains Sheer Terror, who paid $2.60 to win, for Mark Howard.

Roberts ended the meet with 74 driving wins, 15 better than runner-up Russell Foster’s 59. Johnathan Ahle finished third, with 46. On the training ledger, Johnny Crites Jr. clinched the seasonal title when Fox Valley Mamba won the 10th race, a $7,500 conditioned pace, in 1:55.1. Crites took top training honors with 20 wins, followed by Alexandra Goldin (19) and William ‘Bib’ Roberts (18).

Walter Birney Jr.’s Don’tmesswithles was named the Male Pacer of the Meet, recording six wins and amassing $49,675 in 15 starts, with five of those wins coming against winners-over or Open fields. Franklin and Elizabeth Gannon’s Phoenix Rising was the Female Pacer of the Meet by way of three top-level wins in 10 starts, and Eric Foster’s College Tuition earned Trotter of the Meet honors with four wins from seven starts, including his 1:52.4 triumph on April 23 and two victories over JL Cruze.

The Maryland harness racing circuit shifts to Ocean Downs for the summer months; live racing returns to Rosecroft in mid-September. For more information, visit www.rosecroft.com.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

From Rosecroft Raceway