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Two days before Christmas, on a night when chilly but dry conditions prevailed, Rosecroft Raceway put the finishing touches on its 2020 racing season by offering a trio of $20,000 Open events for trotters and pacers on Dec. 23.
In addition to hosting the Maryland Invitational for older pacers, the Maryland Distaff for pacing fillies and mares and the Maryland Trotting Derby for older trotters, Rosecroft also honored its leading pacer, trotter, driver and trainer. Both the top trotter and top trainer titles had been decided long before the closing night card last Wednesday.
In the penultimate race on the Wednesday card and the 2020 calendar, a full field of talented older pacers went postward in the $20,000 Maryland Invitational. Throughout the meet a trio of pacers, Admiral Ballsy (Jonathan Roberts), Rocktavius (Luke Hanners) and Precision Blue Chip (Frank Milby) had dominated the weekly $12,000 Maryland Open.
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With only a few more weeks of live racing remaining on the calendar at Rosecroft Raceway, numerous owners and trainers are simply looking to put the finishing touches on the meet in style.
In the featured, $12,000 Open Handicap for aged pacers that actually kicked off the Sunday night card, Rocktavius (Luke Hanners) lived up to his role as the even-money favorite when he gained command in a 26.4 opener, yielded to Admiral Ballsy (Russell Foster) before the half, sat a tight pocket down the backside and through the far turn then angled to the passing lane and just got up for a head score in 1:51.3.