FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — After ending up a beaten favorite in her previous two starts, Phoenix Rising returned to the Rosecroft Raceway winner’s enclosure on Wednesday (March 5) after posting a three-length score in the featured $10,000 winners-over distaff pace.
 
In line to Frank Milby, the 5-year-old Movie Idol-Scarlet Pandemic mare sprinted to the early lead before briefly yielding control to Dice Dice Baby (driven by Roger Plante Jr.) after a spritely :26.2 opening quarter. Almost as soon as Dice Dice Baby cleared, Phoenix Rising popped out of the pocket to reclaim command, and she controlled middle splits of :55.4 and 1:24.4 before edging away in the stretch to win in 1:53 over a track rated wet-fast. Kix Hanover (Russell Foster) sustained uncovered gains up the backstretch and through the far turn to collar Dice Dice Baby for second.
 
Phoenix Rising lived up to odds-on billing in Wednesday’s featured distaff pace at Rosecroft Raceway. (courtesy Erik Jones/Room 9 Photography)
Trainer Franklin Gannon III co-owns 19-time winner Phoenix Rising, who paid $2.80 to win as the 2-5 public choice, with Elizabeth Cannon.
 
Jonathan Roberts led all drivers with three wins on the 12-race card; Alexandra Goldin led all trainers with a double.
 
Live racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday (March 10); first post is 7:15 p.m. (EDT).
