Phoenix Rising did the heaviest lifting in the $12,329 distaff pacing feature at Rosecroft Raceway on Thursday, Feb. 12 through a long first-over grind but ultimately shared top honours with Peace Talks, who fanned off live cover for driver Jonathan Roberts to force a dead heat and give her driver one of his five wins on the night.

Oh Ophelia (driven by Roger Plante Jr.) drilled a :26.4 first quarter before pulling the half back to :58. With a circuit to go, 19-1 shot Phoenix Rising (Corey Braden) angled out of fifth and steadily advanced in the breeze up the backstretch with 1-5 favourite Peace Talks latching onto live cover.

Oh Ophelia rose to Phoenix Rising's challenge and accelerated through a :28 third quarter, only to be worn down off the corner for home as Phoenix Rising edged clear. Peace Talks found her fastest gear in mid-stretch and lifted to meet Phoenix Rising at the winning post for a shared 1:54.2 victory. Oh Ophelia held third, beaten 4-1/4 lengths.

Michael Hall trains Peace Talks, a five-year-old American Ideal-Triple V Hanover mare who paid $2.10 to win, for John Littleton Jr.

Trainer Franklin Gannon III shares ownership of Phoenix Rising, a six-year-old Movie Idol-Scarlet Pandemic mare who paid $9.20 to win, with Elizabeth Gannon.

Peace Talks' shared win in the distaff feature gave Roberts one of five driving wins on the 13-race card. The 45-year-old reinsman teamed up with Hall to win with Wise Professor (1:56.1, $2.10) and Villannah (1:56.2, $7), and he also won with Bib Roberts trainee Judge Bob (1:57.1, $3.60) and Johnny Crites Jr. trainee Miss Chantilly N (1:56.3, $5.40).

Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday (Feb. 16) with a 13-race card and a $14,378.42 carryover in the 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5, offered in the final race. First post is 7:15 p.m. (EST).

(with files from Rosecroft)