Rosecroft: Bythemissal, Tattoo Artist and Allywag Hanover set up intriguing Potomac Pace

Officials at Rosecroft Raceway have done an excellent job over the years drawing some of the best older pacers to Maryland each November for the $125,000 Potomac Pace and this year is no different. The top two older performers in the sport – Tattoo Artist and Bythemissal – are joined by a strong supporting cast for Thursday’s (Nov. 9) main event carded as race 12.

Breeders Crown winner Bythemissal was installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite despite drawing outside post seven in the field of eight for trainer Ron Burke and driver Yannick Gingras. While the 4-year-old is clearly the one to beat, Tattoo Artist, who saw his seven-race winning streak snapped by Bythemissal, will certainly have a major say in the outcome from his pylon starting position.

“It is great to have him back. Ian Moore couldn’t have done any better than he did. He only lost one race and was on a hell of a roll,” said Chris Ryder, who once again takes over training duties from Dr. Ian Moore to close out the 6-year-old’s career in this race and in the FanDuel championship at The Meadowlands on November 25. “There is a little pressure on the trainer; gotta come out and win.”

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Tattoo Artist will have regular driver Louis Roy in the bike as he looks to make amends for his second-place finish in this race in 2022. For Ryder, he sees things working out for the 8-5 second choice.

“I have an idea of how the race will go – I’m not going to spell it out – and if it goes the way I think it will, we’ll be in good shape,” said Ryder.

Another clear contender in the field is Allywag Hanover. The Brett Pelling trainee seemed flat off a good trip in the Breeders Crown final but the trainer wasn’t exactly concerned.

“I think he’s had a bunch of not so good trips that may have compromised where he is now. His last two trips in Hoosier were good. I was maybe a little disappointed with him last time in that final, but he still came home in 26 seconds and stayed with them,” said Pelling. “He’s probably not where he was last year but I don’t see any reason why he won’t come back to that form. He’s a great horse and doesn’t have any real problems. It is just up to him getting into the right groove.”

Allywag Hanover set a world record of 1:46 4/5 winning the Potomac Pace last year after starting from post four and will leave from that same spot again on Thursday with Todd McCarthy back in the bike.

Splitting Bythemissal and Tattoo Artist in the Breeders Crown while second was Lous Pearlman and he should offer fair value once again starting from the six-hole with Tim Tetrick in the bike for Ron Burke.

Horses like 2020 Potomac Pace winner Leonidas A (post three), who has been speed-tightened lately in a 9/16 race at Yonkers Raceway, and Linedrive Hanover, who draws a more favorable spot in post two tonight, add to the stellar field that has combined for over $11 million in earnings.

Racing at Rosecroft commences at 7:15 PM (ET) on Thursday and the Potomac Pace is scheduled to go off just before 11:00.