Rosecroft holds $87,500 Maryland Sire Stakes Finals

John Wagner and Richard Hans have been dominant harness racing trainers in the Maryland Sires Stakes programs in recent years.

That trend continued for both last night at Rosecroft Raceway, as Wagner trainees and Lockkeeper offspring, Geralds A Keeper and KJ Dash took the top two spots in the $87,500 Colt and Gelding Trot for three-year-olds.

They repeated similar trips from last week’s final preliminary and driver Trae Porter saw his charge, Geralds A Keeper, set a lifetime best 1:56.4 on the engine.

He is now 3 for 4 in 2024 for breeder and owner Pamela Wagner. War Pony trained by Hans was third.

GERALDS A KEEPER REPLAY

In the filly trotting division that was held as an early, non-wagering race, Hans’ Only I Exist (Ya’ll Beneath Me), fended off an improving Emily’s Locket to win for the ninth time in 10 lifetime starts. Russell Foster guided the filly to the win in 2:00.3 and raised her lifetime earnings to 197,881.

In the Colt and Gelding pacing category, Tony Babe (Rusty’s For Real) pulled an 11-1 shocker for driver Jonathan Roberts in 1:53.3.

He, joins stablemate, Babes All In, as a sophomore champion. Ron Short owns and trains the winner who won for the second time in 14 lifetime starts. Firecrackergraham was second and Petes For Real was third.

TONY BABE REPLAY

Fancy Like That (Rusty’s For Real) continued her winning ways in the filly pacing field of five as she cruised to a win in 1:53.3 for Johnathan Ahle setting a new lifetime mark in the process with her 11th win in 19 career starts. Kacey Bendix trains and co-owns the filly with Virginia Marvel.

FANCY LIKE THAT REPLAY

Crossfit Mouse and Corey Braden won the $11,000 Open Handicap trot in 1:57.4 for trainer Stacey Mclenaghan.

Porter won four times on the card and Ahle and Foster won three times each. Ahle leads Porter for the top spot in the driving standings, 77-71 heading to Saturday’s final night of the meet with post time of 7:15.

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

by Peter Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway