Half-mile ovals take center stage on Labor Day
On the day that marked the unofficial end of summer, a pair of half-mile harness ovals in relative close proximity to one another and several prominent beaches presented competitive cards highlighting overnight races for older horses.
Labor Day Monday marked the end of the Ocean Downs summer meet and the Maryland half-mile oval five miles west of Ocean City presented a solid card filled with aged pacers of both genders who will soon be headed back across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to compete at the Rosecroft Raceway fall meet that gets under way this Sunday and lasts through December 18.
In fact, one horse that has made his presence known at Rosecroft in recent years, Rocktavius (Jonathan Roberts) capped his summer season at the seaside oval with his second straight score. Sent out as the 6-5 favorite from the coveted rail in a non-winners of $4,751 last five starts class for older pacers, Rocktavius carved out all the fractions and sprinted clear of 9-5 second choice Southwind Moroccan (Eddie Davis, Jr.) to win by three lengths in 1:54, the fastest mile of the night.
A six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding trained by Megan Roberts for owner William "Bib" Roberts of Trapeze and Yankee Co-Ed fame, Rocktavius notched his second straight win at Ocean Downs and now owns a 6-2-1 slate and $27,000 banked from 23 starts this year. He also owns a commendable 28-17-13 slate and over $172,000 banked from 118 career tries and will likely be in one of the upper classes this Sunday at Rosecroft.
One race earlier in a non-winners of $5,751 last five starts class for older pacers, Lloyd's All In (John Wagner) benefited from a perfect pocket trip behind 3-2 favorite Disturbia (Russell Foster) through the first three calls, angled up the inside through the lane and nailed the choice at the line in 1:54.3. A four-year-old Rusty's All In gelding trained by Shannon Trader, Lloyd's All In recorded his third win at the seaside oval and now owns 10 wins and $90,000 banked from 54 career tries.
Then one race earlier in a non-winners of $3,251 last five starts class for older pacers, Mystical Wally (Frank Milby) easily lived up to his role as the 1-2 choice when he gained command soon after the start and led throughout to score in 1:54.3. A four-year-old Jereme's Jet gelding trained by John Cabot, Mystical Wally owns a 2-4-1 slate and $17,000 banked from 17 starts this year and posted his 10th career score from 47 lifetime tries.
Several races earlier in a non-winners of $1,751 last five starts class for pacing fillies and mares, Whitesvillemichelle (Eddie Davis, Jr.) easily lived up to her role as the 3-5 choice when she brushed to command down the backside and drew clear on the far turn and through the lane to a five-length score in 1:56.1 in the Norma Haines Retirement Race. A five-year-old Capitol Power mare owned, bred and trained by Gary White, Whitesvillemichelle recorded her second win at the seaside oval and delivered a memorable effort for Haines, who has been a fixture at the track for the better part of four decades.
Earlier that evening at Harrington Raceway in southern Delaware, Slick Tony (Russell Foster) made a triumphant return to the local scene when he overcame an extended first over bid as the 1-5 favorite to capture the $20,000 Open Handicap by a neck over Daiymir (Montrell Teague) in 1:52.1. A four-year-old No Spin Zone stallion owned, bred and trained by George "Ronnie" Leager, Slick Tony now owns a 9-4-5 slate and $130,000 banked from 28 starts this year and 27 wins and over $500,000 banked from 61 career outings.
Slick Tony, who dominated the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund events at ages two and three, displayed his ability to take his talents on the road when he won consecutive overnight races at Harrah's Philadelphia in 1:49.3 and 1:51 then finished second once and fourth once in two Great Northeast Open Series events while facing Backstreet Shadow, None Bettor A and Highalator, a 1:48.2 winner this past Saturday night at Pocono Downs in his final prep for the $100,000 Great Northeast Open series final there this coming Monday.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $8,501 last five starts class for older pacers, Sonny At The Beach (Victor Kirby) benefited from a pocket trip behind Gallic Beach (Mike Cole) through the first three calls then edged past that one late to score in 1:52.1. A six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding owned, bred and trained by Bryan Truitt, Sonny At The Beach now owns a 5-7-3 slate from 23 starts this year and a 14-16-11 slate and just over $170,000 bankroll from 82 lifetime tries.
Labor Day Monday marked the end of the Ocean Downs summer meet and the Maryland half-mile oval five miles west of Ocean City presented a solid card filled with aged pacers of both genders who will soon be headed back across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge to compete at the Rosecroft Raceway fall meet that gets under way this Sunday and lasts through December 18.
In fact, one horse that has made his presence known at Rosecroft in recent years, Rocktavius (Jonathan Roberts) capped his summer season at the seaside oval with his second straight score. Sent out as the 6-5 favorite from the coveted rail in a non-winners of $4,751 last five starts class for older pacers, Rocktavius carved out all the fractions and sprinted clear of 9-5 second choice Southwind Moroccan (Eddie Davis, Jr.) to win by three lengths in 1:54, the fastest mile of the night.
A six-year-old Rocknroll Hanover gelding trained by Megan Roberts for owner William "Bib" Roberts of Trapeze and Yankee Co-Ed fame, Rocktavius notched his second straight win at Ocean Downs and now owns a 6-2-1 slate and $27,000 banked from 23 starts this year. He also owns a commendable 28-17-13 slate and over $172,000 banked from 118 career tries and will likely be in one of the upper classes this Sunday at Rosecroft.
One race earlier in a non-winners of $5,751 last five starts class for older pacers, Lloyd's All In (John Wagner) benefited from a perfect pocket trip behind 3-2 favorite Disturbia (Russell Foster) through the first three calls, angled up the inside through the lane and nailed the choice at the line in 1:54.3. A four-year-old Rusty's All In gelding trained by Shannon Trader, Lloyd's All In recorded his third win at the seaside oval and now owns 10 wins and $90,000 banked from 54 career tries.
Then one race earlier in a non-winners of $3,251 last five starts class for older pacers, Mystical Wally (Frank Milby) easily lived up to his role as the 1-2 choice when he gained command soon after the start and led throughout to score in 1:54.3. A four-year-old Jereme's Jet gelding trained by John Cabot, Mystical Wally owns a 2-4-1 slate and $17,000 banked from 17 starts this year and posted his 10th career score from 47 lifetime tries.
Several races earlier in a non-winners of $1,751 last five starts class for pacing fillies and mares, Whitesvillemichelle (Eddie Davis, Jr.) easily lived up to her role as the 3-5 choice when she brushed to command down the backside and drew clear on the far turn and through the lane to a five-length score in 1:56.1 in the Norma Haines Retirement Race. A five-year-old Capitol Power mare owned, bred and trained by Gary White, Whitesvillemichelle recorded her second win at the seaside oval and delivered a memorable effort for Haines, who has been a fixture at the track for the better part of four decades.
Earlier that evening at Harrington Raceway in southern Delaware, Slick Tony (Russell Foster) made a triumphant return to the local scene when he overcame an extended first over bid as the 1-5 favorite to capture the $20,000 Open Handicap by a neck over Daiymir (Montrell Teague) in 1:52.1. A four-year-old No Spin Zone stallion owned, bred and trained by George "Ronnie" Leager, Slick Tony now owns a 9-4-5 slate and $130,000 banked from 28 starts this year and 27 wins and over $500,000 banked from 61 career outings.
Slick Tony, who dominated the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund events at ages two and three, displayed his ability to take his talents on the road when he won consecutive overnight races at Harrah's Philadelphia in 1:49.3 and 1:51 then finished second once and fourth once in two Great Northeast Open Series events while facing Backstreet Shadow, None Bettor A and Highalator, a 1:48.2 winner this past Saturday night at Pocono Downs in his final prep for the $100,000 Great Northeast Open series final there this coming Monday.
Then two races later in a non-winners of $8,501 last five starts class for older pacers, Sonny At The Beach (Victor Kirby) benefited from a pocket trip behind Gallic Beach (Mike Cole) through the first three calls then edged past that one late to score in 1:52.1. A six-year-old Somebeachsomewhere gelding owned, bred and trained by Bryan Truitt, Sonny At The Beach now owns a 5-7-3 slate from 23 starts this year and a 14-16-11 slate and just over $170,000 bankroll from 82 lifetime tries.
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