After ending up a beaten favourite in her previous two starts, Phoenix Rising returned to the Rosecroft Raceway winner's enclosure on Wednesday, March 5 after posting a three-length score in the featured $14,493 Winners Over distaff pace.
In line to Frank Milby, the five-year-old Movie Idol-Scarlet Pandemic mare sprinted to the early lead before briefly yielding control to Dice Dice Baby (Roger Plante Jr.) after a spritely :26.2 opening quarter. Almost as soon as Dice Dice Baby cleared, Phoenix Rising popped out of the pocket to reclaim command, and she controlled middle splits of :55.4 and 1:24.4 before edging away in the stretch to win in 1:53 over a track rated "wet-fast." Kix Hanover (Russell Foster) sustained uncovered gains up the backstretch and through the far turn to collar Dice Dice Baby for second.
Trainer Franklin Gannon III co-owns 19-time winner Phoenix Rising, who is two-for-five this year and paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 public choice, with Elizabeth Cannon.
Jonathan Roberts led all drivers with three wins on the 12-race card while Alexandra Goldin led all trainers with a double.
Live harness racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday, March 10 with first post at 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway; photo of Phoenix Rising from a previous win)