Rosecroft: Endeavor surprises favorites in Potomac Pace Invitational

Endeavor scored his biggest career win to date with an 11-1 upset from first-over in the $100,000 Potomac Pace Invitational for older horses on Sunday night at Rosecroft Raceway. The final time was 1:49 4/5.

The complexion of the race changed before it ever started as both This Is The Plan and McWicked were scratched, reducing the field from eight starters to six. Dorsoduro Hanover (Matt Kakaley) would be the first leader, hustling away from post three, but Breeders Crown Open Pace winner American History (Joe Bongiorno) stayed two-wide from post two rather than tuck into the three-hole behind pole-sitter Dealt A Winner (David Miller), and American History cleared to the front past the 27 1/5 opening quarter.

American History would go on to hit the half in 54 2/5 and the three-quarters in 1:21 2/5, but Endeavor was sent first-up from fourth by driver Tim Tetrick heading to the latter point, and he gained into striking distance on the final bend. Turning for home Bongiorno asked American History to quicken, but Endeavor kept grinding away on the outside and got up in deep stretch for the decision by a neck. Dealt A Winner had pace on the far inside in the lane and finished well for second, with American History fading to third. Dorsoduro Hanover, Courtly Choice (Corey Callahan), and Slick Tony (Russell Foster) rounded out the order.

"I was watching Joe's horse leaving the gate, and he was pretty rocky. I've watched him before, and he's usually great-gaited. I had a feeling maybe he was struggling over the track or not getting ahold of it," remarked Tetrick. "I said 'if I could just get to him and maybe pressure him a little bit I'd have a shot.' It worked out.

"With the two scratches it definitely helped me. In hindsight if McWicked had been in there, maybe I'd have dropped him in to be second-over behind him and maybe he would have cleared and I would have had a shot too. The way it worked out, at the quarter I was cussing myself because there was really no speed. It was kind of already set up there. They (American History and Dorsoduro Hanover) got away 1-2 pretty easy. Luckily, my horse had a great day, Joe's horse didn't have the best of days, and today we got paid."

Trainer Jeff Cullipher also co-owns Endeavor, a 6-year-old gelding by American Ideal, with partner Pollack Racing LLC. This was Endeavor's 31st career win, and he has now earned $648,037. He paid $24.60 to win.

"I've known Jeff since I was in diapers. Our family knows his family pretty well," Tetrick said about Cullipher. "Jeff's on a roll right now. He's doing really good. He's a very good manager and he's got good horses. Him and the owner Tom Pollack, luckily they like me and they let me drive their horses because put good quality stock on the racetrack."