28-1 longshot part of grand slam for Roberts

If harness racing driver Jonathan Roberts is able to catch Johnathan Ahle for the fall driving dash title at Rosecroft Raceway, Thursday (Dec. 14) night’s win with HP Lis Shadow (Shadow Play) in the $12,000 Open I Pace, may be the key race in his comeback. Roberts ended the evenings racing with four winners.

Lingering in the back for most of the mile, Roberts sent his charge into the five wide path down the stretch and outsprinted pace setting Dragon Roars Again (Jared Moyer), Marco Beach (Eric Davis) and Walden Woods (Hugh O’Neil) as they all finished within a length of each other in a driving finish. Time of the mile was 1:52.2.

HP LIS SHADOW REPLAY

Roberts, who rarely finds himself at double digit odds, pulled off a 28-1 shocker for his sister Megan, who owns and trains the four-year-old who has now won three of his last five for Roberts and picked up his fifth win of the year. He paid $58.40 to win.

Roberts also won with 10-year-old White Rolls, who won for the 37th time in his career for trainer Amanda Malone and owner Tammy Crescenze, Your Brother for trainer Michael Hall and owners William and Sarah MacMillan, and Chris Devine, and Take It To Hardt for owner James Mullikin and trainer Brett Moeykens.

Roberts trails Ahle now 47-44 with two nights of live racing remaining.

Vinny Ginsburg rallied from last with Always On Top (Always B Miki) to give him a second win on the card and a 109-108 lead over Trae Porter in the Rosecroft-Freehold driver’s challenge. The eight competing drivers will head north for Saturday action at Freehold to complete the eight-race challenge.

“I love the surface here. It’s awesome and the banked turns are really good, every track should have them” Ginsburg said.

Always On Top won for the fifth time this year for Jason and Brian Burton, who also trains him. Ginsburg also won with Tom’s Twilights for owner-breeder Tom Cooke and trainer Roger Hans.

Trae Porter went wire to wire with Dancing On A Star for trainer Jackie Macleod and Robert Kloss Jr. Eric Davis took the third split of the challenge with Too Soon BG for owner Mike Chaney and trainer, Johnny Crites. It was one of two wins for Davis who scored with Swift Operator for his mom Janet who conditions the horse for Robert Prohm.

Janet Davis had a training double as Russell Foster guided Pop A Top Pop to a 21-1 upset in what could be his last start of his career. The 14-year-old homebred for Davis, owned by Bambi Nichols, won his 39th career race in 336 starts and will finish with earnings over $260,000.

Hugh O’Neil swept the late double with Jesse Stafford and Chris Scicluna’s Franco and Courtney Brooks’ Precision Bluechip, who won for the 41st time in his career.

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

by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway