Talk Show Chica took full advantage of a pocket trip behind 6-5 favourite Phoenix Rising and lunged up the open stretch to spring a mild 6-1 upset in the $14,286 distaff Winners Over Handicap pacing feature on Wednesday, March 12 at Rosecroft Raceway.
Owner/driver Corey Braden left aggressively with Talk Show Chica, stringing out Phoenix Rising (Frank Milby) on the first turn before yielding for a pocket trip through a :27 first quarter. The eight-year-old Heston Blue Chip-Notalkingback mare was content to stalk middle splits of :55.3 and 1:24.1 as Phoenix Rising faced intensifying first-over pressure from Dice Dice Baby (Roger Plante Jr.) approaching the far turn and a three-wide bid from Fancy Like That (Eric Davis) turning for home. While Phoenix Rising began to tire in the stretch, Talk Show Chica dove to the open stretch and lunged to collar the pacesetter by a quarter of a length for her 30th career win in 1:53.3. Dice Dice Baby stayed on for third, beaten three-quarters of a length.
Stacey McLenaghan trains Talk Show Chica, who is now two-for-four this year and paid $14.40 to win.
One race prior, McLenaghan teamed Scott Warnick trainee Lenda Hand Man to a 1:56.1 win in a $8,571 Mid-Atlantic Drivers' Club pace.
In the other event for amateur drivers on the 13-race card, Matt Zuccarello scored his 50th career victory, launching Steve Wetzel trainee Rocket Mac three-wide around stalled cover approaching the far turn before sprinting to a four-length, 1:54.3 win over Bourbons Courage.
Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday, March 17 with a $982.92 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5, offered in race 10. First post is 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway)