FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — Double millionaire JL Cruze took advantage of a clear stalking trip and a closer-friendly track bias en route to his 75th career win, a 1:54.2 score in Wednesday’s (March 26) $12,000 Open Handicap Trot at Rosecroft Raceway.
 
In line to Russell Foster, the 14-year-old Crazed gelding perched off :26.3 first-quarter duel between Spy Booth (driven by Jonathan Roberts) and 4-5 favorite College Tuition (Johnathan Ahle) before enjoying a three-hole ride through middle splits of :55.3 and 1:24.4. Just prior to entering the far turn, Foster angled JL Cruze off the pegs, and the veteran responded at once to collar the tiring Spy Booth at head-stretch and draw clear to win by a measured 2-1/4 lengths.
 
College Tuition rallied up the open stretch to narrowly save second out of a failing pocket; Bur Bun (Roger Plante Jr.) closed belatedly for third.
 
JL Cruze surged to the fore in upper stretch en route to his 75th career win, taken in Wednesday’s Open Handicap Trot at Rosecroft. (courtesy Erik Jones/Room 9 Photography)
 
Eric Ell trains JL Cruze, who paid $11.00 to win as the 9-2 third choice, for the partnership of Ken Wood, Bill Dittmar Jr. and Steve Iaquinta.
 
 
McLenaghan wins Grit & Grace Drivers Challenge
Local horsewoman Stacey McLenaghan topped a field of eight female drivers to take the $500 top prize in the Grit & Grace Drivers Challenge, a two-race competition that attracted reinswomen from the Mid-Atlantic, New England and the Midwest.
 
Meet n Greet with Grit and Grace Participants at Rosecroft. (courtesy Ted Black)
 
After finishing third in the first leg with Money Or Roses, McLenaghan piloted Scott Warnick trainee Hey Siri to a 12-1 upset in the second leg, sealing victory over Marianna Monaco, who won the first leg with 30-1 outsider Wiggling Jenna. Also competing were Stacy Chiodo, Doreen Dailey, Alexandra Goldin, Lauren Harmon, Leslie Joyce and McKenzie Sowers.
 
Live racing returns to Rosecroft on Monday (March 31) with a pair of carryovers: $676.71 in the Pick-5 (races 3-7); $5,322 in the Jackpot Hi-5 (race 10). First post is 7:15 p.m. (EDT). For free nightly past performance pages, The Players’ Guide tip sheet, and race replays, visit www.rosecroft.com.
