After rallying from far back to narrowly miss last week, Layton Hanover sustained an extended first-over grind through the final lap of the $16,438 Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway to score a narrow 1:52.3 victory on Monday, Feb. 9.
In line to Roger Plante Jr., Layton Hanover landed in fourth early as 1-2 favourite Spring Blake (Russell Foster) pushed clear of Leonards Legacy (Tim Deaton) at the end of a :27 quarter. Layton Hanover angled first-over with a lap to go and steadily ground forward to press middle fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.3. The pair duelled through the far turn and into the stretch, with Layton Hanover putting Spring Blake away with 40 yards to go and winning by a half length. Sheer Terror (Jonathan Roberts) lifted off live second-over cover to finish in a dead heat for second with Spring Blake.
Andrew Fulton trains Layton Hanover, who has won two of his last three starts at Rosecroft, for Tribbett Racing of Denton, Maryland. The seven-year-old Captaintreacherous-Livin Life gelding now has 25 career wins to his credit and $717,884 in purse earnings.
He paid $5 to win as the 3-2 second choice.
Plante led all drivers with three wins on the 13-race card, also winning with Levi At Play (1:54.3, $13.80) and Gandalf The Bay (1:53.4, $10.20).
Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Thursday, Feb. 12 with a 13-race program and a Jackpot Hi-5 carryover of $12,972.22. First post is 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway)