Eric Foster's homebred College Tuition proved resolute under pressure in scoring his third consecutive win in the $16,438 Open Handicap Trot at Rosecroft Raceway on Thursday, May 7, parrying a stout two-pronged stretch challenge to narrowly prevail in 1:54.4.
Russell Foster left hard from post seven with College Tuition, and the eight-year-old Donato Hanover-Stirling Charisma gelding cleared Inferno DK (driven by Roger Plante Jr.) and Deadline Hall (Jonathan Roberts) upon entering the first turn. The pair traveled unopposed through splits of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:25.4 before 7-5 favourite Deadline Hall emerged out of third to take aim at College Tuition through the final turn. Despite Deadline Hall's steady outside advance and a similar inside push from Inferno DK in the stretch, College Tuition dug in to keep both rivals at bay and win by a diminishing head.
Deadline Hall finished second; Inferno DK was third.
Courtney Foster trains 31-time winner College Tuition, who paid $7.60 to win as the 5-2 third choice. The trotter now sports a career bankroll exceeding $446,000.
TWICE AS NICE FOR KIEL: MacKenzie Kiel scored a training and driving double, capturing two of the three $6,849 Mid-Atlantic Drivers Club events on the card. Kiel first rallied Captain Terminator ($8.80) off second-over cover to a 1-1/4-length, 1:56.2 win over Legal Power before guiding Dont Freak Out ($4.60) through a lengthy first-over grind to defeat Righthererightnow by a head in 1:59. Dragon Roars Again ($16) prevailed in the other split for driver Mark Shahan Jr.
IT PAYS TO PLAY THE PICK-4: The Late Pick-4 returned $1,580.50 after Caribbean Sam-Nin and driver Trae Porter sprang a 59-1 upset in the 11th race. Every program at Rosecroft features a pair of Pick-4s, both with a 50-cent base wager and a low 15 per cent takeout.
NEWS AND NOTES: In addition to Kiel's double-double on the 13-race program, Foster, Porter, Corey Braden and Jonathan Roberts all scored driving doubles while Dylan George and Thomas Lord harnessed two winners apiece. Live harness racing at Rosecroft resumes Saturday, May 9 with an 11-race card and a $497.13 carryover in the 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5, offered in the finale. First post is 7:15 p.m. (EDT).
(with files from Rosecroft; photo of College Tuition from a previous win)