A field of six trotters will compete this Sunday evening (October 8) in the RUS MidAtlantic Monte Series Final, which will be contested at Rosecroft Raceway.
The $5,000 race is headlined by Hyway Marcus, who won the first two legs of the series and will be looking to complete the series sweep.
The tilt will be contested as a non-wagering event after the third race on the pari-mutuel card. The race holds an estimated post time of 7:30 p.m.
Hyway Marcus (Post 2), is trained and ridden by Sasha Moczulski for new owners Joseph Faraldo, Gilbert Teitel, and Charles Wittstruck. The six-year-old son of Gut Instinct has developed a reputation for being a star RUS trotter with a lifetime record of 5-1-0 after seven starts. The horse has made only two starts this year under saddle and won series legs at Ocean Downs and the Meadowlands Racetrack with a seasonal mark of 1:59.4, which was set at the Meadowlands.
Pine Tab (Post 5), who will be ridden by Helene Gregory, could be the main contender in the race. In his first lifetime start, the Nick Surick trainee duelled with Hyway Marcus. The duo sparred in the Meadowlands stretch. Pine Tab got to within a quarter-length of his foe before he went off stride.
Another contender is One True Friend (Post 3), who finished second in the second leg of the series (at the Meadowlands). Since that effort, the lone mare in the race came in first at Saratoga, followed by second-place finishes at Batavia and in the Elizabeth Miller Memorial at Monticello this past Monday. Hillary Hartnett will be in the irons once again for trainer Wesley Miller.
Other horses in the race are Mr Protab (Post 1, Emma Wahlberg) who won his lone start last year at Ocean Downs and will be looking to improve off of his third-place finish at the Meadowlands in his seasonal debut. Catalyst (Post 2, Stephanie Jacobs) will look to improve with the return to the five-eighths-mile oval after having put in a dull race at the Meadowlands. Keenan (Post 6, Maria Buchanan) finished second in his lifetime debut at Ocean Downs, but jumped off before the start at the Meadowlands.
First race on the wagering card is slated for a 6:40 p.m. post.
(With files from RUS MidAtlantic)