It isn't every day that 70-year-old reinsmen reached the winner's circle, but that was the order of the day Tuesday, March 27 at Rosecroft Raceway

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The man in question, Alvin Lineweaver, showed all that he still could get one to the winner’s circle, as he engineered a powerful first-over steer to hit paydirt with trainer-owner Ronald Lineweaver's DVC Is Magical, who returned $34.20 on a successful Win wager.

The raceway's seasonal track record was also lowered, and then equalled, during the program.

I Told Gordy, trained and owned by Thomas Swann, used a two-hole trip to capture the Winners Over Handicap, upending the favoured Gone Nuclear (driven by Frank Milby), who finished second. Driver Justin Brenneman worked out a perfect trip and pounced on a hard-used leader to set the meet’s fastest time of 1:53.4.

That was just a preview of the slugfest that would take place during the final dash on the card.

Varsity Hanover, owned and trained by James Whalen Jr., was favoured and driven by his favorite pilot, Justin Vincent. He fired to the lead, yielded to Rocknroll Jewel near the opening quarter, but was back on the point five-eighths of a mile from home. Gottaservesomebody had pushed out of the three hole and to the leader’s throatlatch by the five-eighths-mile pole.

Gottaservesomebody and Varsity Hanover battled every step of the final three eighths of the mile, neither giving an inch in an all-out war. They pace around the final turn and Varsity Hanover couldn’t shake off Gottaservesomebody (Jeff Lieberman). The duo matched strides the length of the stretch, and Varsity Hanover put a desperate head in front in the shadow of the wire. The inquiry light immediately popped on, and, after a lengthy inquiry, Varsity Hanover was disqualified to second for a violation of the pylon rules and Gottaservesomebody was placed first.

The final time was 1:53.4 and tied the season’s mark at Rosecroft set one race earlier by I Told Gordy.

Rosecroft will hold qualifiers on Friday, March 30 with a first post of 11:00 a.m. due to a rugby tournament being held Saturday afternoon. The box for qualifiers will close at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 29. Racing will return to Rosecroft Saturday, March 31, with a first post of 7:25 p.m.

(With files from Rosecroft)