After producing a track-record performance earlier in the meet, undefeated Nobody Knows It punctuated her season with a victory in the $142,857 Maryland Sire Stakes (MDSS) Final for two-year-old trotting fillies at Rosecroft Raceway on Sunday, Oct. 11.
Richard Hans’ homebred trainee took command early in the mile and posted fractions of :28.3, :58 and 1:27 before finishing a 1:56.2 winner over the wet-fast track. Nobody Knows It was on top by a commanding five lengths for driver Corey Callahan past three-quarters, but stablemate Thats It For You (Russell Foster) tried to make a race of it late, coming up a length short at the finish. Bootsy Gum Drops (William Carter) was 16 further lengths back in third.
"She's a gamer, she wants to go forward, and she wants to beat other horses," Callahan said. "She gets bored on the front end all the time, but I knew I was going to win. I didn't pop the plugs or call on her, she just coasted in. I could've gone to plan B if I had to."
The Betting Gangster S-Goo Luck Charm filly (pictured above) has won her last seven starts against restricted Maryland company, including the MDSS Final in September at Ocean Downs. Adding in a debut victory at Harrah’s Philadelphia in July brings Nobody Knows It's record to eight-for-eight in her freshman season. She has partnered with Callahan in all of her races so far and has banked $213,394. As a heavy favourite, Nobody Knows It returned $2.10 to win.
Callahan knew immediately how talented of a horse he was dealing with and hopes that she gets her chance on bigger stages next year.
"After her first start, I knew right then and there that no one in Maryland could beat her," he said. "She's just a really nice horse. Richard (Hans) is an excellent horseman that breeds some great horses, I hope she gets a chance in some stakes next year. I think she deserves an opportunity."
Hans also had a pair of his protégés finish in the top two spots in the $142,857 MDSS Final for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
Booger Bear (Jonathan Ahle) and Yall Got No Shot (Russell Foster) raced one-two through :27.3, :57.1 and 1:26.1 panels and drew away from the competition throughout. They were nearly 15 lengths clear of the others at the finish, with Booger Bear ($3.40) prevailing by three-quarters of a length over his stablemate, a near carbon copy of the finish in the Ocean Downs MDSS Final in July. Convicted Criminal (Brandon Givens) was third.
Booger Bear, a son of Yall Beneath Me-Get Rich Quick, is now eight-for-15 lifetime with $302,548 in earnings. Hans owns and bred the gelding, who stopped the clock in 1:56.4.
And Just Like That ($2.20) gave favourite-backers a serious scare when she was eighth lengths off the gate at the start of the final for three-year-old trotting fillies. However, she advanced through a :29.2 quarter to reach the front before the half in :57.3 and trotted away from her rivals through three-quarters in 1:26 to win by 13-3/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Progressivekathy (William Carter) was best of the rest, followed by Penn Tell Her (Frank Milby).
The winning Megan Foster trainee, also bred by Hans, has been plagued with breaking issues in the past but has shown tremendous talent when she stays flat. Russell Foster drove the daughter of Betting Gangster S-Gooreatness, who is seven-for-14 lifetime and has earned $212,330 for Russell Foster Racing LLC.
If I Win Uwin ($4.80) saved all the ground around the final turn and exploded through the passing lane in the stretch to win the final for two-year-old pacing fillies in 1:57.1. Racing near the back through :27.4, :56.2 and 1:26 fractions, the daughter of Dapper Dude-Aubergine Hanover rallied from eighth at three-quarters to prevail by 1-1/2 lengths over R U Kidding (Jared Moyer), with All That Rusty (Tony Morgan) third. Jonathan Roberts was the beneficiary of a late pickup drive for trainer Les Givens and owners J M B Ventures. If I Win Uwin, bred by Micki Rae Stables LLC, is three-for-nine with a bankroll of $125,240.
More Than Better ($7.40) led all the way to post a seven-length score in the final for three-year-old pacing fillies in 1:54.1. She put up panels of :27, :57 and 1:25.2 and prevailed over favourite Thatsloveto (Jonathan Ahle) with Im Feeling Spicy (Eric Davis) third. Driver Russell Foster picked up his second MDSS Final win of the night for trainer Herman Hagerman and owner Hagerman Racing. More Than Better, a daughter of More The Better N-Aristobrat Hanover bred by Pamela Wagner, won for the seventh time in 28 starts and has now earned $209,697.
In The Worst Way ($2.80), after racing in the pocket through fractions of :29.2 and :59.2, made a powerful brush for driver Corey Braden going to three-quarters in 1:29.4 to take over and drew clear to win the final for two-year-old trotting males by 9-1/4 lengths in 2:00.4. My Mago (Jared Moyer) was second-best, followed by Areallyfastcar (Eric Davis). Trainer Herman Hagerman and owner Hagerman Racing picked up their second MDSS Final win on the card as the Pamela Wagner-bred son of Il Mago-Greatestofease improved to four-for-seven and upped his bankroll to $160,486.
Shootout ($2.60) led all the way to earn his sixth consecutive victory in the final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings in 1:53.1, shaving nearly three seconds off of his lifetime mark. He put up the splits of :26.1, :55.4 and 1:24.2 and opened up through the stretch for a 7-1/4-length triumph over Cash Is Better (Corey Braden). Major Dapper (Shane Griffith) completed the top three. Roger Plante Jr. drove the winning son of Wearinmysixshooter-The New Americana for trainer Steve Le Blanc and co-owners Glenn Dyke, Leblanc Racing Inc. and James Stuart. Shootout, bred by Dyke, is now eight-for-10 with $196,758 in bankroll.
Better Gon ($2.20) recovered from an early break approaching the quarter and survived an inquiry to win the final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The gelding landed seventh for driver Russell Foster at the :27.1 quarter after the lapse in gait, then came third-over to the half in :57 and rushed three-high to three-quarters in 1:25.2. He then overpowered Dapper Time (Justin Walters) coming off the last turn and drew off by 3-3/4 lengths to score in 1:54.3. Fast Willie (Eric Davis) was third. The winning son of More The Better N-Graygon is owned by Frederick Weitz Jr. and trained by Adrian Wisher Jr. John Wagner bred the sophomore, who is now 12-for-14 with $305,574 in earnings.
Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Thursday. The card features a $5,042 carryover in the 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5, offered in the finale. First post is 7:15 p.m. (EDT). The card will be drawn on Monday.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway)