After being eclipsed off cover by Dandy Ideal in the Breeders Crown Open Pace, Women Layer turned the tables on his rival in the $176,056 Grade 3 Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Sunday, Nov. 8, emerging from the pocket in the final 120 metres to post a 1:48 victory.
Yannick Gingras sealed off the pocket with Women Layer as 3-5 favourite Dandy Ideal (Tim Tetrick) pushed to a clear lead through a :26 first quarter. After rating a :54.3 half, Dandy Ideal faced a first-over challenge from Prince Hal Hanover (Todd McCarthy) up the backstretch and was forced to quicken to three-quarters in 1:21.1.
Prince Hal Hanover levelled off turning for home, enabling Gingras to wedge Women Layer to the outside with 120 metres to go. The five-year-old Sweet Lou-Loreenas Ruffian gelding shifted gears and overpowered Dandy Ideal in deep stretch to win by a half-length. Prince Hal Hanover held third, another 5-1/4 lengths behind.
Virgil Morgan Jr. trains Women Layer, a 34-time winner with $1,671,903 in career earnings in 60 starts. The gelding is owned by Let It Ride Stables Inc., Jeff Fought Racing, Larry Wills and Jesmeral Stable. As the 3-1 second choice, Women Layer paid $8.40 to win.
Gingras took a similar path to victory in the $70,423 Pete Medhurst Legacy Pace with Railroad Station, who eclipsed early leaver Icaco Hanover (Russell Foster) at the end of a :26.2 quarter before releasing even-money choice World Of Wishes (Tetrick) to the lead with a circuit to go. The four-year-old Sweet Lou-Rodeo Rosie entire drafted behind middle splits of :53.4 and 1:21.2 before taking aim at World Of Wishes in upper stretch and powering clear late for a 2-1/4-length, 1:49.4 score. Icaco Hanover saved third, another 1-1/2 lengths back, off a ground-saving trip.
Ron Burke trains 12-time winner Railroad Station, who now has $675,720 in the bank from 55 appearances for Burke Racing Stable LLC, Hatfield Stables, Weaver Bruscemi and J&T Silva-Purnel & Libby. The winner paid $9 as the 7-2 second choice.
Racing returns to Rosecroft on Thursday; first post is 7:15 p.m. (EST). The 2026 Fall Meeting features live harness racing on Monday and Thursday evenings through Dec. 17.
(Rosecroft Raceway)