Russell Foster wins six at Rosecroft Raceway

Eric and Lisa Ell’s Island Of The Sea (Always A Virgin) brushed to the lead right before the three-quarter mark and held off Can’t Beach That and Starship to win the $17,500 Maryland Exclusive Handicap on Thursday (Oct. 6) night at Rosecroft Raceway.

It was the seventh win of the year for Island Of The Sea and tied a season’s best 1:50.2, for trainer Eric Ell and driver Russell Foster. He paid $3.40 to win.

Foster won four races on the live betting card and two early non-betting Maryland Sires Stakes races.

Foster won with his own Smooth Rocket who swept both preliminary legs and heads to the $75,000 Final next week as the favorite in the two-year old Colt and Gelding category.

Val’s Girl ran her two-year old record to a perfect 9-for-9 as she dispatched six other filly pacing foes in a lifetime best 1:55.4 for Roger Plante. Steve LeBlanc trains the winner and co owns with Count De Money Stable and William Lutz Jr.

“She’s just a special animal. She has taken the bigger track just fine and been terrific,” Plante said.

Goolishness and Trae Porter held off her archrival Call Me Goo to set up a showdown in next weeks $75,000 final for freshmen filly trotters,

Sultan Of Sultans and Pat Berry, John Wagner and Lloyds Loves and Foster and How Do You Goo also saw Sires Stakes wins. Jonathan Roberts won three times and Trae Porter twice on the night.

For complete race results, click here.

by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway