FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Russell Foster extended his lead atop the Rosecroft Raceway drivers’ table with four wins on Monday night’s (Feb. 17) 12-race card, headlined by a 1:54.1 win with Reece Hales III’s Vel What A Star in the sub-featured $8,000 conditioned pace.
 
Foster launched Vel What A Star to the fore through a :26.3 opening quarter, and the pair traveled uncontested through middle splits of :56.4 and 1:25.1 before parrying a mild first-over challenge from Whiskey Breath on the far turn. In the stretch, Vodka N Cran (driven by Johnathan Ahle) emerged from the pocket to challenge Vel What A Star, but the 5-year-old Tellitlikeitis gelding won steadfastly by three-quarters of a length. Triple Shot (Frank Milby) finished third.
 
(courtesy Erik Jones/Room 9 Photography): Vel What A Star was the highlight of a driving grand slam for Russell Foster and a training double for Brittany Bounds.
 
Vel What A Star, who paid $2.60 to win, was one of two winners Foster drove for trainer Brittany Bounds.
 
Seven days into the meet, Foster has won 17 races, followed by Roger Plante Jr., with 10, and Johnathan Ahle and Jonathan Roberts, with nine apiece. On the training ledger, Bounds took over the lead with her training double, now with seven wins on the season. Johnny Crites Jr. and Bryson Dunning are tied for second, with six wins apiece.
 
Horse, of course! William Daggett Jr. and Lawrence Vukovic’s Horse sprang a 17-1 upset in the $10,000 top-level pacing feature, stalking an extended duel between favorites Don’tmesswithles and Doubleornothing N through the far turn before emerging up the open stretch to defeat the late-closing Rock Smart by a head in 1:52. Billy Carter trains and drove the 8-year-old Vertical Horizon gelding, who paid $36.80 to win.
 
Racing returns to Rosecroft on Wednesday (Feb. 19); the 12-race program features a $727.95 carryover in the Jackpot Hi-5, offered in race 10. First post is 7:15 p.m. (EST). As always, free past performance pages and The Players’ Guide tip sheet are available for download at www.rosecroft.com.
