After forcing 2-5 favourite Phoenix Rising through a :26.1 first quarter, Michael Somerville's homebred Dice Dice Baby parlayed a pocket trip into a 7-1 upset in the $16,667 Mares Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway on Wednesday, Feb. 5.
Dice Dice Baby and driver Roger Plante Jr. strung Phoenix Rising (Frank Milby) out through a protracted first-quarter duel before yielding to the pocket with just over a circuit to go. After Phoenix Rising cleared and rated middle splits of :55.4 and 1:25, she parried a first-over challenge from Bluebird Ina (William Carter) on the final turn, but Dice Dice Baby emerged from the pocket in upper stretch and engulfed the softened Phoenix Rising to win in 1:53.4. Lights Out rallied up the open stretch to finish second, a half length back while Phoenix Rising held for third.
William Cox trains Dice Dice Baby, a seven-year-old Rockincam-Miss Reba mare who now has 17 career victories and nearly $140,000 in earnings. Following a third-place finish in her season's debut last week in the Open, Dice Dice Baby paid $16.80 for the mild upset.
In a $14,493 top-level conditioned trot, Eric Foster's homebred College Tuition and driver Russell Foster travelled uncontested through splits of :27.4, :57.1 and 1:25.4 before edging 2-1/4 lengths clear of Spy Booth (Jonathan Roberts) to win in 1:54.2. Courtney Foster trains the seven-year-old Donato Hanover-Stirling Charisma gelding, who paid $3.80 to win.
Trainer Basil Sapienza scored a hat trick on the 13-race program, sending Sheishungry ($4.20, 1:54), Bluffs Crush ($4.60, 1:55.2) and Hungry Lady ($7.20, 1:54.2) to victory.
Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday, Feb. 10 with a Jackpot Hi-5 carryover of $568.83 and first post slated for 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway; photo of Dice Dice Baby from a previous win)