With Spring Blake taking a week off after dominating Maryland's best pacers for much of the current meeting at Rosecroft Raceway, Rodney Long's J M Mandamin dug deep to repel two late challengers and seal a narrow 1:51.2 win in the $16,667 Open Pace on Monday, April 6.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite in the seven-horse field, J M Mandamin and driver Frank Milby sprinted clear of 7-2 second choice Layton Hanover (Roger Plante Jr.) through a :27.1 first quarter before backing down the half to :56. After continuing up the backstretch unopposed, J M Mandamin found his first test of the race in the form of Sea Of Life (Russell Foster), who mounted a first-over bid out of fourth before the far turn and offered mild pressure to the leader turning for home. The 10-year-old Mach Three-J M Lasstax gelding shrugged off Sea Of Life with ease, but Layton Hanover gave him a stronger test up the open stretch. J M Mandamin held steadfast, holding off Layton Hanover's inside bid by a diminishing head while Sea Of Life finished third after levelling off.
John Dixon trains J M Mandamin, who earned the first Open victory of his career and improved his seasonal record 2-3-2 from 10 starts. He paid $2.40 to win.
Lifetime, J M Mandamin has won 37 races while earning $575,529 from 135 starts.
The Spring Fever Claiming Series, for $13,889 claiming pacers, kicked off Monday with 26 first-round entrants split into three $10,417 divisions. The winners were Brother Dick ($4.60) in 1:53.3 with Justin Walters driving, Poseidon Deo ($4.40) in 1:53.2 with Trae Porter and Reactor Now A ($7.40) in 1:53.1 with William Carter. The series will continue each Monday in April, with further preliminary rounds taking place on April 13 and 20 before the top nine point earners from the three preliminary rounds contest a $11,000 USD (added) final on April 27.
WJustin Walters led all drivers with a hat trick on the 13-race card. The 23-year-old reinsman teamed the aforementioned Brother Dick to victory for trainer Greg Trotto before also winning with James Eveland trainee Subban ($3.40) in 1:54 and Tucker Coleman trainee Frontier Rollo ($7) in 1:52.4.
Live harness racing at Rosecroft resumes on Thursday, April 9 with the 13-race card highlighted by a $12,000 USD Open Handicap Trot and a $2,096.06 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5. First post is 7:15 p.m.
(With files from Rosecroft Raceway)