Kayla Pressel registered her first-ever driving win in the first of two $8,219 Grit and Grace Women's Invitational events on Thursday, March 26 at Rosecroft Raceway.

Appearing in just her fourth career start, Pressel acheived the accomplishment with All In Jest, whom she also trains for Patty Moyher. A 21-year-old Pennsylvania native, Pressel angled All In Jest off the pegs from fourth with just over a half mile remaining, and the pair used a steady first-over ascent to overpower pacesetter Tater Tot Hanover (Amanda Blackford) at the eighth pole and evade a late rally from Ashtons Artillery (Brittany Bounds) by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.

Stacey McLenaghan won the other Grit and Grace division, rallying Lenda Hand Man from the pocket to edge pacesetter American Artist K (Nicky Ratledge) by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55.2 for trainer Scott Warnick and owner Deborah Warnick.

The co-featured $13,699 races — one each for pacing mares and trotters — both yielded repeat winners, as Phoenix Rising and Deadline Hall lived up to favoured billing in their respective events.

In the female pace, even-money favourite Phoenix Rising and driver Corey Braden forged clear of Oh Ophelia (driven by Roger Plante Jr.) to seize early command, measured a :56.4 first half mile, then repelled a sustained challenge from 90-1 outsider Dapplesrsweet (Mark Sheridan) on the far turn before evading a three-wide challenge from runner-up Go Now (William Carter) by 1-1/4 lengths to win in 1:53.1. Wise Professor (Jonathan Roberts) emerged from traffic to save third from a tiring Oh Ophelia.

Trainer Franklin Gannon III co-owns 29-time winner Phoenix Rising with Elizabeth Gannon. The six-year-old Movie Idol-Scarlet Pandemic mare paid $4 to win.

In the trot, Deadline Hall and Jonathan Roberts yielded early control to 18-1 shot College Tuition (Eric Davis) before vacating the pocket to claim the lead after a :27.1 quarter. Once on top, Deadline Hall had full control of middle splits of :57.1 and 1:26.1 before sprinting clear of his pocket rival for a two-length, 1:55 score as the 1-10 favourite. Dowedealinandwhy (Jared Moyer) was forced three-wide around a breaking Yall Just Love Me on the far turn, briefly bid for second at the eighth pole, but finished third after leveling off.

Trainer Michael Hall co-owns Deadline Hall, whose current three-race win streak brings his career total to 16, with Manklin Creek LLC. The six-year-old Muscle Mass-Daylon Mystique gelding paid $2.20 to win.

15-YEAR-OLD PACER VICTORIOUS: Kyle Walters captured two of the evening's three Mid-Atlantic Drivers Club events, steering 15-year-old Bungalow Bill N, who paid $5.80, to a 1:57.2 score for trainer-owner Philip Koazk; and engineering a 9-1 upset with Howard Birney trainee Everbridge ($20.60), who sustained an uncovered attack on Better Than Some before kicking 3-1/4 lengths clear of Foxbriar Remark to win in 1:54.3. 

Mark Sheridan captured the other MADC division with eight-year-old Pinebush Livesaver ($7) in 1:54.4.

Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday, March 30; there will be a $1,362 carryover in the 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5, which is offered in the 13th and final race on the program. First post is 7:15 p.m. (EDT).

(with files from Rosecroft)