Imperious pays off in Rosecroft feature; Milby is the ‘Saturday Man’ at the ‘Croft
FT. WASHINGTON, MD – The longest shot on the board, Imperious [$57.80, $12.40 $3.60], won the $4,200 featured pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Saturday with ease in 1:54.3.
Driven by Wayne Long, the six-year-old Glowing Tribute gelding sat in the pocket through early quarters of 27.0 and 57.0. Long asked the gelding for more near the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1, and Glowing Tribute responded, closing in 29.1 to beat the field by a length and a half. Roger Hans trains the gelding for owner Tom Cooke.
Instigator [$2.80, $2.10] finished second after coming from nearly eight lengths off of the pace. Driven well by Chris Offutt, the eight-year-old Presidential Ball gelding was strong through the middle half of the mile. Bib Roberts trains for the Graham Grace Stables LLC.
Third were Bucktown Badboy [$2.20] and driver Timmy Offutt. The duo, off at even-money odds, were parked through the middle half and ran into minor interference around the three-quarter pole. The six-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding, owned and trained by Doc Davison Jr., paced in a respectable 1:55.0 despite the trouble.
The trifecta returned $247.20.
Reinsman Frank Milby won seven of 12 races on Saturday evening, proving why he holds the top spot in the driver standings.
Blue Boy won the third race, a non-winners pace, in 1:54.4 by six lengths. The three-year-old Real Artist gelding, trained by ‘Bib’ Roberts, was extremely impressive on the front end.
Milby came back in the fifth race with Paradusho N, an 11-year-old veteran mare by Road Machine. Trained by George Bartlett, the mare paced first-over to win in 1:55.4.
In the sixth race, Allamerican Solo was best in 1:56.0 on the pace. The trainee of Ron MacArthur, a three-year-old Western Hanover gelding, came second-over to secure the lead before the three-quarter pole.
Milby continued to dominate the track in the seventh race, driving Mister Bruinski to a win in 1:57.3 on the pace. Roger Hans trains the five-year-old Glowing Tribute gelding.
In the eighth, Bootmaker scored a four-length win in 1:54.4. The five-year-old Badlands Hanover gelding, trained by George Bartlett, paced confidently off of the gate from post seven for a wire-to-wire trip.
Milby took the last two races; the 11th featured Man He Can Go, a five-year-old Masterman gelding trained by Brian Callahan. The gelding paced gate to wire in 1:55.3, winning by just over a length. In the 12th race, Country Rogue N stayed on the front, winning by a neck in 1:57.0 on the pace. Shawn Hanley trains the nine-year-old Falcon Seelster gelding.
-Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Raceway