After two unsuccessful starts in upper-level events at Bally's Dover, Business Director made easy work of his foes in his return to Rosecroft Raceway on Monday, Jan. 27, coasting to a 1:52.3 win in the $12,143 co-featured conditioned pace and giving driver Russell Foster one of four driving wins on the 14-race, opening night program.
Foster, whose Russell Foster Racing owns Business Director together with Arty Foster III and Wanda Saulsbury, cut the six-year-old Art Director-Best Business gelding loose with a circuit to go and the pair seized command from 77-1 outsider Racer Pacer through a :56.2 half. From there, Business Director turned aside a mild first-over challenge from Winbak Willy T before edging clear by three lengths to record his 21st career win. Racer Pacer (Hugh O'Neil) narrowly protected second from Winbak Willy T (William Carter).
Megan Foster trains Business Director, who paid $2.10 to win.
Foster's other driving wins were with Brittany Bounds trainees Phils Sun ($4.60, 1:53.1) and Vel What A Star ($4.20, 1:52.4) and Timmy Offutt trainee Rock Smart ($36, 1:55.1).
Walter Birney Jr.'s Dontmesswithles withstood a barrage of late pressure in winning a co-featured $14,286 pacing event.
In line to Roger Plante Jr., the six-year-old Captaintreacherous-JK Letitgo gelding carved out fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:24.1 before facing a first-over challenge from Lyons Stealth (Cole Olsen) on the far turn. While engaged with that rival, Dontmesswithles also found pressure in the homestretch from Rickybobbynthehaus (O'Neil), who took aim up the inside. Dontmesswithles dug in to keep both of them at bay, defeating Lyons Stealth by a head in 1:53. Rickybobbynthehaus finished another head back in third.
Howard Birney trains 12-time career winner Dontmesswithles, who returned $8.40 for a $2 win bet.
Pizzagaina's 14-1 win in the season opener set off a string of major upsets on the card. Three other horses won at double-digit odds: The Marshal (18-1), Love On The Line (20-1) and Rock Smart (17-1).
Hugh O'Neil scored a driving triple while driver William Carter and trainers Brittany Bounds, Johnny Crites Jr. and Bryson Dunning all notched doubles.
The12-race card on Wednesday, Jan. 29 at Rosecroft features a Mares Open Pace, carded as Race 11. There will be a pair of carryovers: $462.61 in the 50-cent Pick-5 (Races 3-7) and $1,489.10 in the 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5. Free past performance pages are available through the Rosecroft website. First post is 7:15 p.m.
(Rosecroft Raceway)