Nicoles Scooter bests RcR featured field; Wagner back to winning ways
FT. WASHINGTON, MD – Driver Kelly Staten guided Nicoles Scooter [$13.80, $11.00, $4.00] to the winner’s circle in the $4,200 featured distaff pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Friday, winning by a length and three quarters in 1:55.3.
Leaving the gate from the rail position, the four-year-old Real Artist mare sat fourth through an opening quarter of 27.3. Staten took the mare out first-over in a confident bid, pacing through middle fractions of 57.2 and 1:26.0. Owned and trained by Gerald Kelly, Nicoles Scooter fended off the betting favorite in the stretch to reward her fans at the windows.
Dig Alittle Deeper [$3.40, $3.20], the even-money choice by post time, finished second after cutting the early portion of the mile. With Frank Milby at her lines, the four-year-old daughter of Nuclear High held on with a 30.0 last quarter. Roger Hans trains for owner Tom Cooke.
Third in the $59.40 trifecta were You Diehl [$3.00] and driver Eddie Dennis. Co-owned by Richard Smith and trainer Ron MacArthur, the five-year-old Western Ideal mare came from several lengths off of the pace to hit the board.
Driver John Wagner took five of 11 races on Friday night, showing that he is still one of the best on the Maryland circuit. In the second race, Modern Marvel trotted wire-to-wire in 1:57.1 to win by a neck for trainer Manley Brown Jr. Wagner owns the six-year-old Self Possessed gelding.
The third race featured Winning Women, a sophomore Riverboat King filly owned by Pamela Wagner. After being more than 11 lengths off of the leader at the first quarter, Winning Women scored a length victory in 2:00.1 on the pace.
Deere Callie won by half a length on the trot in race seven despite breaking stride at the start of the mile. Owned by Lloyd Gilmour, the three-year-old Emile Angus filly recovered well to make up around seven lengths through the back half of the mile.
It’s The Law went gate-to-wire in the ninth race, pacing to a two-and-a-half length win in 1:59.0. Owned and trained by Gerald Kelly, the three-year-old Western Hero colt was the betting choice and closed the deal with a 29.2 final quarter.
In the 11th event, Our Rotten Ruby won by half a length on the pace in 1:57.2. The seven-year-old Doctor Of Style mare, owned by Michael Ternisky, gained the lead after an opening quarter of 29.0.
-Daina Kazmaier, Rosecroft Raceway