By Ed Gray, for 1ST RACING – Weaver Bruscemi’s Bythemissal followed up his decisive Breeders’ Crown Open victory with an even more dominating triumph in Thursday night’s $125,000 Potomac Pace at Rosecroft Raceway.
While capturing his 11th victory of the 2023 racing season, the Ron Burke-trained gelding became the first favorite to win in the eight-year history of Rosecroft’s marquee race. Bythemissal has won 25 of 32 lifetime starts.
Allywag Hanover, who set a world record on a five-eighths of a mile track while winning last year’s Potomac Pace in 1:46.4, was quickest to leave in the eight-horse field, while Byethemissal got away a bit slowly before being sent after the pacesetter on the first turn by driver Yannick Gingras. Bythemissal took over the lead past a blistering first-quarter of a mile in 26.1 seconds. The son of Downbytheseaside never looked back while setting fractions of 54.1 and 1:20.4 on his way to a final clocking of 1:48 for the mile. The final time was the fastest turned in by a 4-year-old in Rosecroft history while drawing a.
“He’s just a great horse,” said Gingras, the leading money-winning driver in North America this year. “He can do it any which way.”
Tattoo Artist, the 2-1 second choice driven by Louis Roy, got away third from his rail post position and closed to finish a distant second. Linedrive Hanover and Scott Zeron edged Allwag Hanover for third.
Story by Ed Gray
