Trainer Johnny Crites Jr.'s Spring Blake rode the pocket behind fast fractions en route to a 1:50.2 win — his fourth in a row — in the $16,667 Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Monday, March 30.

In line to Russell Foster, Spring Blake was rebuffed by J M Mandamin (Frank Milby) after the pair duelled through a sizzling :25.3 first quarter. Foster then took the five-year-old Courtly Choice-Spring Break ridgling back to the pocket to draft behind middle splits of :54.4 and 1:22.3 before re-emerging at the eighth pole and overpowering J M Mandamin by a measured length. Layton Hanover (Roger Plante Jr.) finished third after stalking the top pair throughout.

Spring Blake, now a 22-time winner in his career, has won six of his nine starts this season. 

As the 1-5 favourite, he paid $2.40 to win.

The 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5 was hit for the second time in three cards after R N B Band and driver Frank Milby rallied to a 1:50.4 win in the sub-featured $12,500 top-level conditioned pace and keyed a 2-4-5-6-8 combination that returned $3,559.85.

The 2026 winter-spring meeting at Rosecroft Raceway features live harness racing on Mondays and Thursdays through April, followed by Thursdays and Saturdays in May through May 16. This includes an added live program on Saturday, May 9. Post time each night remains 7:15 p.m. 

(Rosecroft Raceway; photo of Spring Blake from a previous win)