Veteran driver completes hat trick

Harness racing driver John Wagner may be 65, but he was driving like he’s 35 and Wednesday night, as he secured one of three victories in the $12,500 Open Handicap Trot victory at Rosecroft, piloting Northern Express to an exciting win over a fast closing Yall Beneath Me in 1:53.4.

It was the 24th lifetime win in 83 starts for Northern Express, the six year old son of Muscle Massive who is owned and trained by Arty Foster Jr. Northern Express made his first nine starts of the year at Dover Downs in its top trotting categories as while banking $79,700, managed to win only once, but secured six second place finishes.

Wagner put him on the engine last night and his chief adversary Yall Beneath Me, making his seasonal debut drafted along in the pocket and could only get to within a half-length at the wire.

Judge Bob was third to complete the triple.

NORTHERN EXPRESS REPLAY

Wagner won three times on the card, six in the last two nights, and is firmly in the driving dash competition with young bucks Foster (50 wins) and Jonathan Roberts (45 wins). Wagner’s season total now sits at 43.

Foster won three on the card, including a serious pari-mutuel puzzling win with Caribbean Sam-Nin. While 0-9 on the year, the mare has been third six times, including a third in the same class from the same eight post she had last night. Listed at 7-2 on the morning line, she was allowed to leave the gate at 29-1 and she delivered a whopping $60.40 return to her backers. Trae Porter had a double, winning with Truth And Liberty, netting the mare her 63rd lifetime win.

Frank Milby won last night with Elizabeth Darcy, the filly broke her maiden in her sixth lifetime start winning on the engine in 1:57.4. She gave Milby his 2994th driving win and joined her mom, Scarlet Pandemic and her Grand Dam Scarlet Brocade as winners at Rosecroft all for the Gannon Family who owns and trains the daughter of Meadowlands Pace winner Art Official.

For full race results, click here.

by Pete Medhurst, for Rosecroft Raceway