Ft. Washington, MD —
Marco Beach and Eric Davis spent many a night in the Fall meet cutting big miles against Rosecroft’s best in the $12,000 Open I handicap from outside post positions.
Thursday night (Jan. 25), a rare appearance from post two allowed the 8-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere to not only secure a spot near the front, but, in the pocket. Davis and Marco Beach bided their time, following Around Midnight, who left from post eight cutting fractions of :26.1, 54.4, 1:23, before Davis and Marco Beach blew by in the stretch to win in 1:51.2.
Marco Beach won seven times in 2023, hit the board in 20 of 34, and last night looked like the horse that starred in the Fall meet, but had 28 days in between starts.
“I gave him a legit break. That’s why we took back from the outside post last week, he wasn’t tight and needed to protect him.” said trainer Alexandra Goldin who conditions for owner Antionette Bencivenne. It was the 24th lifetime win for Marco Beach.
Sea Of Life (Jared Moyer) closed well for second and Precision Bluechip (Hugh O’Neil) was third.
In the $10,000 Open II category, Snoopy Snoop and Trae Porter held off a late bid from No Better Joy (Russell Foster) to take home a three-quarters length victory in 1:54 for Johnny Crites. It was the second win of the night for Porter who scored with Crook Boyzz for the red John Wagner barn.
Driver Jonathan Roberts won four times on the card, and has won eight times in his first 32 drives of the meet. Roberts opened the card with a win driving Honky Tonk Flame ($19.20), and notched wins with Captaingiddyupandgo ($3.60), giving trainer Brian Burton a double, Tapped Teen ($3) and Danger Zone ($2.40) giving his dad, Bib Roberts an owning double.
O’Neil piloted a pair of winners as Redwood Again ($19.60) logged an 8-1 win for Courtney Brooks and Turn Me Loose ($6.40) won the finale for trainer Mackenzie and who co-owns with Kristen Kiel.
