Bythemissal (Yannick Gingras) won the 2023 edition of the $125,000 Potomac Pace and could return for his third consecutive appearance in the race this Sunday afternoon at Rosecroft Raceway.
Trainer Andrew Harris stands in the paddock with his talented aged pacer Abuckabett Hanover, who won last year’s Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway and could be on hand to defend his title in that event this Sunday afternoon.
Driver Dexter Dunn gets interviewed by Rosecroft Raceway announcer James Witherite last year after guiding Abuckabett Hanover to victory in the $125,000 Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway. The track is set to host the tenth renewal of that event this Sunday afternoon.
Ervin Hanover and driver Dexter Dunn won the Breeders Crown Open Pace on Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
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Bythemissal (Yannick Gingras) won the 2023 edition of the $125,000 Potomac Pace and could return for his third consecutive appearance in the race this Sunday afternoon at Rosecroft Raceway.
The Enquirer-Gazette file photo
Trainer Andrew Harris stands in the paddock with his talented aged pacer Abuckabett Hanover, who won last year’s Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway and could be on hand to defend his title in that event this Sunday afternoon.
TED BLACK/The Enquirer-Gazette
Driver Dexter Dunn gets interviewed by Rosecroft Raceway announcer James Witherite last year after guiding Abuckabett Hanover to victory in the $125,000 Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway. The track is set to host the tenth renewal of that event this Sunday afternoon.
While most sports fans are quick to set aside Sundays for watching the menu of National Football League games, harness racing enthusiasts will turn their attention to Rosecroft Raceway this Sunday afternoon when the Fort Washington oval hosts the tenth edition of the Grade III, $125,000 Potomac Pace Invitational for older free-for-all pacers.
Each of the first nine editions of the Potomac Pace has enabled local racing enthusiasts the chance to see many of the best older pacers, as well as the sport’s top drivers convene at Rosecroft for an event that has witnessed its share of stellar performances from established pacers as well as a few genuine upsets from then-unproven commodities.
Although it will not be the most lucrative race in track history, this Sunday’s Potomac Pace will be the first to carry graded designation. Thoroughbred races have been graded for 50 years, but this season marks the first time that harness races have been given graded designations — largely based on the purse — and this Sunday’s Potomac Pace has been tagged as a Grade III event although most of the prospects have been competing in Grade I races.
Speaking of Grade I races, headlining the list of possible entrants for the Potomac Pace — the entries and post positions were slated to be drawn on Thursday, Oct. 30 — is recent Breeders Crown Open hero Ervin Hanover. A five-year-old Captaintrecherous stallion trained by David Menary for owner Pollack Racing LLC, Ervin Hanover solidified his status as the best older pacer in the land with a powerful 1:46.2 triumph last Saturday night at Mohawk Park in the Breeders Crown final as the 6-5 choice, his 10th win in 16 seasonal outings.
Looking to turn the tables on the division leader are two pacers trained by Per Engblom who chased him home in the final last weekend. Coaches Corner sat a loose pocket trip throughout and finished second as an overlooked 15-1 shot while Huntinthelastdollar displayed early speed from post 10 but gave way late. Coaches Corner sports 5-7-1 slate from 21 seasonal tries that also includes runner-up efforts in the Aria at Yonkers Raceway and Canadian Pacing Derby.
Trainer Ron Burke could send one of his two top older pacers, Bythemissal or Racing Rebel. Two years ago, Bythemissal followed up his Breeders Crown victory with a sharp score in the Potomac Pace, but last fall he bled at the outset of the Potomac and exited the race before the half. Last weekend he was a sharp second in a $75,000 Free-For-All at Mohawk won by Surreal Ideal in 1:47.2.
Likewise, trainer Thomas Cancelliere is expected to send either Maximus Miki or Ruthless Hanover for the Potomac. Last fall, Ruthless Hanover set the early fractions in the Potomac before being overhauled late by Abuckabett Hanover and last weekend he was a game third in the Mohawk Free-For-All won by Surreal Ideal while Maximus Miki, hero of both the Canadian Pacing Derby and Hoosier Derby, was fourth in the Breeders Crown final.
While many of the probables were still sitting on the fence as of this past weekend, trainer Andrew Harris is expected to send either Abuckabett Hanover, the defending champion, or Captain Luke for this year’s renewal.
Thus Sunday’s live racing card will commence at 2 p.m., with the Potomac Pace expected to go postward around 5. Rosecroft is also expected to offer the $25,000 Pete Medhurst Memorial, formerly the Maryland Invitational, named in honor of the late, great former track announcer and longtime Navy Football broadcaster who passed away nine months ago.
