FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Sent off at 3-5 in her return to Rosecroft Raceway, Phoenix Rising stole soft fractions and kept pocket rival Bluebird Ina a length at bay to win Wednesday night’s (Jan. 29) $11,500 Mares Open Handicap Pace.
Frank Milby gunned the 5-year-old Movie Idol-Scarlet Pandemic mare to the top through a :27.1 first quarter, and the pair then coasted through middle splits of :58 and 1:26.2 while Bluebird Ina (driven by William Carter) drafted from the pocket. Turning for home, Phoenix Rising had plenty in reserve to parry a mild challenge from Bluebird Ina and win in 1:55.2. Dice Dice Baby (Roger Plante Jr.) finished third after stalking the top pair the entire mile.
Trainer Franklin Gannon III co-owns 18-time winner Phoenix Rising, who paid $3.20 to win, with Elizabeth Gannon.
Plante wins 3,000th: Roger Plante Jr. scored the 3,000th win of his driving career when he steered Eli Scott Jr. trainee Killer Waves ($4.20) to a 1:56.3 victory in the evening’s sixth race, a $4,000 first-level conditioned pace for fillies and mares.
A native of New Hampshire, the 57-year-old Plante logged his first career start in 1984. Since 2001, he has been a mainstay in the Delmarva region, and he has driven the winners of over $27 million in his career.
Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson: Amateur driver Steven Robinson reached a milestone of his own — his 100th career driving victory — when Awesome Times Two ($3.20) posted a 3-3/4-length, 1:59.2 win over Moneyorroses in the Mid-Atlantic Drivers Club pace. The 59-year-old Robinson, who also trains a small stable, first lined up behind the gate in 1994 and has driven off and on in the three decades since, primarily in amateur events.
Notes: The 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5, in race 10, returned $3,984.10 to one player with the winning combination of 5-2-8-6-9. … Milby and Plante both recorded driving triples on the 12-race card.
Live racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday (Feb. 3); first post is 7:15 p.m.
