News & Notes

The driver standings for the fall meet tightened up a bit Nov. 18 when Jonathan Roberts registered a five-bagger to run his total to 24 with seven live racing programs remaining for the season.

Russell Foster remains the leader after Sunday’s races with 36 wins, four more than Frank Milby in second. Jason Thompson is fourth with 19, followed by John Wagner with 16. Next in line are Allan Davis and Roger Plante Jr., each with 15 victories.

Among drivers with at least 100 starts, the in-the-money percentage leaders are Roberts (53%), Foster (43%), Milby (40%), Plante (39%) and Wagner (38%).

Arlene Cameron still tops the trainer standings with 16 wins, followed by Brian Wright (11), Megan Roberts (10), Phil Jasper (8), and Buddy Bright and John Hollingsworth, each with 7. For those with at least 40 starts, the in-the-money leaders are Roberts and Jasper, each at 45%, followed by Mark Gray (37%), Cameron (36%) and Hollingsworth (33%).

Here’s a look at several races on the Wednesday, Nov. 21, program:

Race 1

A scrambled bottom-level money condition pace for fillies and mares kicks off the evening. A Lady Sizzling was good enough a few months ago to have earnings that placed her in the top filly and mare events at Rosecroft but she now finds herself with a zero bankroll in at least her last six outings; showed signs of life last time and has the best company lines but a short price may be hard to take. Threedee Delight A makes her local debut for new trainer Sheldon Powell—he’s 10-for-16 in the top three for the fall meet—and could be a major factor here despite post 8 and her 1-for-21 record so far in 2018.

Race 4

Runaround Sue, sharp in her last two starts for the Jasper barn, and Ruthless Dude, who moves inside a few spots tonight, are a combined 0-for-63 lifetime but on paper appear to be the only two in this “NW 1 life” pace with the speed to secure early position and perhaps dictate the tempo. Pick 3 price-shoppers might want to consider Mymomadontluvme, who raced OK at Dayton Raceway in Ohio Nov. 12 and makes her first start for the Eric Foster barn; post 8 won’t help her apparent lack of early foot but any improvement could put her in the mix given the competition.

Race 7

Nine-year-old Proud Maryet has a history of making up ground late as long as the fractions are within her scope. That scenario seems reasonable in this second-level money condition pace for fillies and mares and she draws a favorable post that should keep her close enough to make a winning move.

Race 9

Shaker Rei was hung out to dry through three-quarters of a mile in 1:24 4/5 against a tougher crew last week and drops to the bottom money condition tonight. The last time she competed at the “non-winners of $1,000 in the last five starts” level in early October she was aggressive on the lead in a 1:54 1/5 victory; seems pretty solid given the class relief and the prospect of a kinder journey.

Race 10

Rowdy Patti has gone some strong miles at Rosecroft this fall even though her lack of early speed gives her a lot of work to do, particularly from outside posts, which is the case tonight. She exits a Nov. 14 “winners over” pace at Dover Downs in which she picked up live cover from the first-up Hillbilly Jet, who continued to grind and finished a close second to the even-money favorite. Rowdy Patti came home in good time to be a decent fourth and generally, it seems horses have an easier time making up ground from off the pace at Rosecroft than Dover.