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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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FORT WASHINGTON, MD – The harness racing season comes to an end Wednesday evening at Rosecroft with a 14-race program highlighted by three $20,000 events for the top nine Maryland money earners in their respective categories.
First race post is 7:15 p.m.
The $20,000 Maryland Invitational, for the top nine Maryland preferred money earners this meet, will be led by Richard Malone Jr.’s 5-2 favorite Admiral Ballsy, who will leave from post 4. Right outside the 4-year-old gelding will be RockTavius, the 3-1 second choice.
The $20,000 Maryland Distaff has Vernon Cannon’s 5-2 favorite Psychic Blue Chip leaving from post one. The 5-2 favorite in the $20,000 Maryland Trotting Derby is Graham Grace Stables LLC’s Judge Bob, who drew post 8. Luckycompeter is 3-1 and will leave from post one.