After only mustering minor placings in Open events in her first two starts of the fall meeting, Phoenix Rising found her way back to victory in Thursday's (Oct. 9) $12,500 distaff pacing feature at Rosecroft Raceway.

In line to Frank Milby, Phoenix Rising worked clear from post eight to control a :26.2 first quarter. After rating middle splits of :55.2 and 1:23.3, the five-year-old Movie Idol-Scarlet Pandemic mare parried a late challenge from pocket rival Dice Dice Baby (driven by Roger Plante Jr.) by three-quarters of a length to win in 1:52.1. Awesome Hill (Russell Foster) finished third, another 1-1/4 lengths behind, after stalking the top pair throughout.

Trainer Franklin Gannon III co-owns 25-time winner Phoenix Rising, who paid $10.80 to win as the 4-1 third choice, with Elizabeth Gannon.

Phoenix Rising also keyed a winning Jackpot Hi-5 combination of 8-5-1-4-2 that returned $8,328.95.

In the sub-featured $11,806 conditioned pace for fillies and mares, 18-year-old Ryder Skinner scored his first-ever driving win when he rallied Ideal Out off cover to a 1:53.4 win for his dad, trainer Jason Skinner.

Live racing at Rosecroft resumes Monday (Oct. 13); first post is 7:15 p.m. 

(Rosecroft; photo from a previous win on April 16)