Grace Rocks resumes her roll at Rosecroft

Grace Rocks (Rockin Image), in three lifetime starts, has never lost a harness racing contest at Rosecroft. Last fall, the seven year old won off of a 21-day layoff.

Tuesday night at Rosecroft, she made her season debut and this time off of a 70-day layoff, the winning machine was on point and went by the pace setting I Love On Gait in the stretch to win by just under a length for driver Justin Walters.

GRACE ROCKS REPLAY

The youthful Walters, who turns 21 on Wednesday, won with her in her final start of the year and expertly handled the winner who took eight wins in 23 starts in 2023. Tuesday marked her 28th win in 86 starts and she has been in the money in 60% of those starts. The $20,000 Hoosier Sale yearling purchase, has now made $472,660. George Lange trains the mare for Howard Taylor.

Declan Donoway picked up his first win of the year as he picked up the catch drive on Lloyd’s Loves (Rusty’s All In) for Pamela Wagner and drove her to an all-time best 1:53.3 win. It was one of the three wins on the night for the John Wagner barn, as Corey Braden won with Race Eye (Racing Hill), and Stacey McLenaghan won with Spee Dee Shark (Shark Gesture) in the Mid Atlantic Amateur Drivers Club. Braden notched a double rallying McBam (Mcardle) from way back to win for Colby Hubble.

Johnathan Ahle won with Hot To Channel (Always B Miki) for Ken Schlotzhauer and Freaky (Heston Blue Chip) for trainer Michael Hall who conditions for Let It RIde Stables and Odds On racing Ahle completed a hat trick as he guided Team Kiwi N (Bettor’s Delight) home for Darren Ferrell.

Jonathan Roberts had a double on the card as he trotted home with Iwishnototbetouched (Wishing Stone) for trainer Bib Roberts and the Graham Grace Stables and Bizet (Guida Muscle) for the same connections.

Roger Plante won with Cindy Jo (Stay Hungry) for Jamie, Deborah and Walter Bozman Jr. edging out Maryland Sires Stakes freshmen champion Fancy Like That in a thriller as both made their seasonal debuts.

William Carter scored his 21st win of the meet as he escorted Bluffs Crush (Delmarvelous) to victory for Basil Sapienza, and Trae Porter won the finale with a dramatic rally off the final turn the nip Siri Blue Chip, Summer Squall and M S Ingenious who were all in the win photo and separated by the less than a length.

Thursday night’s Jackpot Hi-5 Carryover for race 10 stands at $11,118.32.

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

by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway