News & Notes

John Wagner became the latest driver of the meet to have a five-win night when he did so Thanksgiving Eve. That gives him 21 wins heading into the 22nd program of the fall meet, good for fourth in the standings.

Just a reminder the $100,000 Potomac Pace, an open event, is coming up next Sunday, Dec. 2, along with an expected visit from Foiled Again, the 14-year-old winner of more than $7 million who will compete in his final race Dec. 31 at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino in western Pennsylvania. The gelding is scheduled to race at Rosecroft as part of the Potomac program, which will be drawn Nov. 29.

Here’s a look at several races on the Sunday, Nov. 25, program:

Race 1

The program will begin with an excellent group of pacers in the highest “non-winners” money condition level written at Rosecroft, and chances are a few of them will be dispatched at inflated odds given the competitive nature of the field. Go Big Spinder drops from the Open I level after a couple of even inside trips but his effort in this class three starts back would suffice; leading driver Russell Foster was also named to steer Yankee Artillery but sticks with this one.

Race 4

Toms Tornado was more than competitive in the “non-winners of $2,500 in the last 5 starts” class” in his last four outings—including two long park-out journeys—and drops to the bottom-level money condition. He draws in the middle of the gate and appears quick enough early to find an advantageous spot. Atomic Art also drops from the next-up level, is better than his lines may suggest and moves to the pylons after consecutive races with outside posts; it will be interesting to see the strategy here given his apparent lack of early foot.

Race 9

Maurice (Race 1 today) was a smooth two-move winner in this class week, and one of the horses he defeated, Concert Artist, is one of nine entered in this wide-open condition pace. He got the shuffle last week but came home in :28 3/5 to finish third; consistent gelding hasn’t hit the board nearly as much he did in 2017 but he seems worth a look at decent odds. Allan Davis picks up the drive as Foster opted for Sword Ofthe Spirit, who drops a notch after a quality effort from post 9 in a race won by the classy builder Capital Builder and moves to post 2; only 1-for-23 this year but could be favored.

Race 10

With Dover Downs having been dark last Thursday—no $25,000 Open pace last week—Options Are Adream returns to Rosecroft to spice up an already tough Open I pace. The 5-year-old gelding took his lifetime mark of 1:51 here earlier this year, can leave quickly or race with success from the off the pace, and can come home as fast any of these; only appearance of the night for trainer/driver Ross Wolfenden before changes. Rock N’ Roll Jet is a rare consecutive three-time winner of this event and he hasn’t gotten hammered in the betting in any of them; could be the case again given post 9 and some legitimate opposition. Hickory Aloha was hard-used on the front-end last week and just didn’t have enough late; beware the pocket trip.