Mattjestic Art scores top honors in Rosecroft Open; Milby outdrives the competition
FT. WASHINGTON, MD – The $6,000 Open pace brought Mattjestic Art [$11.00, $4.60, $3.60] to the winner’s circle with a confident mile in 1:54.3 at Rosecroft Raceway on Saturday.
Racing for owner Marvin Callahan, the seven-year-old Artiscape gelding grabbed the lead off of the gate from post position six for an opening quarter of 28.0. With Frank Milby in the sulky, Mattjestic Art settled back into second behind Instigator (Jonathan Roberts) through middle fractions of 57.1 and 1:26.0 to win by a length with a last quarter of 28.1. Alvin Callahan trains the gelding, which has been consistent through his last several starts.
Holding the lead through the middle half of the mile, Instigator [$5.40, $2.60] finished second for the Graham Grace Stables LLC. Driven by Jonathan Roberts for trainer “Bib” Roberts, the eight-year-old Presidential Ball gelding was sharp through the race but was overtaken by Mattjestic Art during the last steps of the mile.
SA Monterosa [$7.00] finished third at 21/1 odds – the longest shot in the race. The seven-year-old gelded son of The Panderosa, driven by Alvin Lineweaver for the Swann connections, sat along the rail to save ground through the mile. The trifecta paid $381.80.
Fuzzy Sylberun paced wire-to-wire in the first event, winning by over three lengths in 1:54.0. Brian Callahan trains the eight-year-old J B Stena gelding for himself and the Love Of My Life Stable.
In the second race, Perfect Magic was unbeatable on the front end, pacing to victory in 1:55.1. The five-year-old Bettor’s Delight horse races for owner Tom Cooke and trainer Roger Hans.
Mattjestic Art won the sixth race, while Milby piloted Blissfull Ball to the top in the 10th race. The six-year-old Blissfull Hall gelding paced gate-to-wire in 1:55.3 for the Callahan connections.
In the 11th race, a pace, Newfound Yankee won by a nose in 1:59.0 for owner Gary Botsch. David Kelly trains the seven-year-old Electric Yankee gelding.