Open events - Tuesday Card at Rosecroft
A trio of Open events for pacers on the latter one-third of the Tuesday evening card at Rosecroft Raceway may not enable fans of Maryland racing to quickly forget last weekend's Preakness Stakes, but they will offer plenty of value since the outcomes appear truly wide open.
In the eighth race, the $11,500 Open I for pacers - the first top Open of the meet thus far - the race attracted Delaware invader Bandolito, who was assigned the outside post position in the field of eight and will be the solid choice although far from a mortal lock. Bandolito has won five times in 15 starts this year, including a wicked 1:48.1 score at Dover Downs and a sharp 1:51 tally at Harrington Raceway. He was also fourth in the $50,000 Van Rose Invitational at Pocono Downs earlier this month, overhauled in the lane by recent George Morton Levy Memorial Series final hero Domethatagain.
But with Bandolito handicapped to the outside, this Daryl Bier trainee is not a cinch to make the front. Just to his inside are local speedsters Hot Art and Toms Titan, who dueled for command in a wicked 25.4 opener last week which enabled closers Hi Sir and Manhattan Rusty N to finish one-two. If both Toms Titan and Hot Art leave the gate alertly, Bandolito could get parked to a serious opener or he may have to take back and try his luck from well off the pace and third or fourth over, which has not always been his favorite tactic.
Hot Art and Manhattan Rusty N are already in the discussion for horse of the meet honors, so if either one prevails over Bandolito on Tuesday evening that pacer will vault to the head of the class. Hot Art has won the Open 2 on four occasions this year, while Manhattan Rusty N boasts one win in the Open 2 and three wins at the meet from 10 outings. He has also banked nearly $20,000 along the way after failing to earn a dime in five starts at Dover Downs to start the campaign. Hi Sir ended a brief skid with a win in the Open 2 last week.
Speaking of the $9000 Open 2 for aged pacers, that race appears next on the card. Booze Cruzin steps up off a sharp score against non-winners of $3000 last five starts company last week, as does Caviart Tyler, another former horse of the meet selection. Booze Cruzin is rapidly approaching $1 million in his career, highlighted by a win in the $225,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood in 2007. Beammeupscottie has enjoyed a solid meet but missed last week, while Brody (Sean Bier) has won both of his starts over the strip since arriving from Delaware but gets an acid test this evening after feasting on much softer the last two weeks.
Then one race later in the $9000 Open 2 for pacing fillies and mares, Little Miss Woohoo seeks her first win at this level and will look to keep her hopes alive for horse of the meet honors. This Clyde Oglesby, Jr. trainee already boasts four wins at the meet, all against conditioned foes. Bonnie Ben Jammin tried the boys in her last start and made a break and has been idle for three weeks. Valentina De Vie returns to the scene of her most impressive scores last fall, while Happy Feet Too has been knocking on the door at this level.
In the eighth race, the $11,500 Open I for pacers - the first top Open of the meet thus far - the race attracted Delaware invader Bandolito, who was assigned the outside post position in the field of eight and will be the solid choice although far from a mortal lock. Bandolito has won five times in 15 starts this year, including a wicked 1:48.1 score at Dover Downs and a sharp 1:51 tally at Harrington Raceway. He was also fourth in the $50,000 Van Rose Invitational at Pocono Downs earlier this month, overhauled in the lane by recent George Morton Levy Memorial Series final hero Domethatagain.
But with Bandolito handicapped to the outside, this Daryl Bier trainee is not a cinch to make the front. Just to his inside are local speedsters Hot Art and Toms Titan, who dueled for command in a wicked 25.4 opener last week which enabled closers Hi Sir and Manhattan Rusty N to finish one-two. If both Toms Titan and Hot Art leave the gate alertly, Bandolito could get parked to a serious opener or he may have to take back and try his luck from well off the pace and third or fourth over, which has not always been his favorite tactic.
Hot Art and Manhattan Rusty N are already in the discussion for horse of the meet honors, so if either one prevails over Bandolito on Tuesday evening that pacer will vault to the head of the class. Hot Art has won the Open 2 on four occasions this year, while Manhattan Rusty N boasts one win in the Open 2 and three wins at the meet from 10 outings. He has also banked nearly $20,000 along the way after failing to earn a dime in five starts at Dover Downs to start the campaign. Hi Sir ended a brief skid with a win in the Open 2 last week.
Speaking of the $9000 Open 2 for aged pacers, that race appears next on the card. Booze Cruzin steps up off a sharp score against non-winners of $3000 last five starts company last week, as does Caviart Tyler, another former horse of the meet selection. Booze Cruzin is rapidly approaching $1 million in his career, highlighted by a win in the $225,000 Windy City Pace at Maywood in 2007. Beammeupscottie has enjoyed a solid meet but missed last week, while Brody (Sean Bier) has won both of his starts over the strip since arriving from Delaware but gets an acid test this evening after feasting on much softer the last two weeks.
Then one race later in the $9000 Open 2 for pacing fillies and mares, Little Miss Woohoo seeks her first win at this level and will look to keep her hopes alive for horse of the meet honors. This Clyde Oglesby, Jr. trainee already boasts four wins at the meet, all against conditioned foes. Bonnie Ben Jammin tried the boys in her last start and made a break and has been idle for three weeks. Valentina De Vie returns to the scene of her most impressive scores last fall, while Happy Feet Too has been knocking on the door at this level.
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