After being stretched out through a :26.2 first quarter and fending off a stern first-over challenge from Coaches Corner through the far turn, John Cancelliere's Maximus Miki outlasted an inside challenge from pocket rival Nijinsky to seal a narrow 1:48.2 victory in the Grade 3 $176,056 Potomac Pace on Sunday (Nov. 2) at Rosecroft Raceway.
In line to Scott Zeron, Maximus Miki pushed forward from post eight to clear 2024 North America Cup winner Nijinsky (driven by Dexter Dunn) on the first turn while Coaches Corner (Jason Bartlett) secured a three-hole ride from the pole. Coaches Corner angled off the pegs on entry to the clubhouse turn and inched closer to Maximus Miki through a :55 half before advancing to engage the pacesetter through a :26.2 third-quarter duel.
Off the corner for home, Maximus Miki dug in to keep third-place finisher Coaches Corner at bay and also held off a late charge from 7-5 favourite Nijinsky up the open stretch by a scant nose to score his sixth win of the season.
Abuckabett Hanover, last year's Potomac winner, finished fourth, beaten 3-3/4 lengths.
Maximus Miki, whose other major conquests this season include the Canadian Pacing Derby and the Harrah's Hoosier Park Pacing Derby, is trained by Tom Cancelliere. As the 4-1 third choice, the six-year-old Always B Miki gelding paid $10.20 to win.
Zeron also won the undercard feature, the $35,211 Pete Medhurst Legacy Pace, with Sheer Terror. The five-year-old Always B Miki gelding made a middle move from third to take the lead just beyond a :54.2 half before evading late pursuers A Major Attitude and Layton Hanover by three lengths to win in 1:50 for trainer Willard Reynolds and owner Mark Howard.
Eric Davis and Russell Foster led all drivers with three wins apiece on the 13-race card.
Live racing at Rosecroft resumes Thursday (Nov. 6); first post is 7:15 p.m. (EST).
(Rosecroft Raceway)