Rosecroft: Gingras, Women Layer seek revenge for Crown loss in Potomac

The best older male pacers in the sport roll into Rosecroft Raceway on Sunday (Nov. 8) for the G3 $125,000 Potomac Pace. Carded as the 11th event on a 14-race program that kicks off at 6:00 P.M. (ET), the Potomac features the first and third finishers in the recent Breeders Crown, with Women Layer and driver Yannick Gingras hoping to turn the tables on Dandy Ideal.

"He raced really good, no doubt," said Gingras about Women Layer's effort in the $662,000 Crown. "He was just a little too aggressive. To be able to win these races, you just have to relax a little bit more so you could be in the spot you need to be in. Last start, it was kind of, he was driving me more than I was driving him."

Women Layer fired out from his pylon position in the Breeders Crown to get away third in a 25 4/5 opening quarter. Gingras moved him to the rim before the 53 2/5 half, and the 5-year-old by Sweet Lou just wasn't satisfied rating on the outside, instead attacking with a 26 and change third quarter.

"We could have just chilled there first-over for a bit, and then it would probably would've helped us, but he just wanted to race, which, you know, it's a good problem to have for most of the time, but in that situation, I just wish he would just relax a little bit at that point," said Gingras about the Virgil Morgan Jr. trainee.

► Get FREE Harness Eye PPs and Analysis for Sunday’s Potomac Pace card

Dandy Ideal tracked the move by Women Layer and finished a half-length ahead of him at the wire to capture the Breeders Crown, with Calicojack Hanover splitting the pair with a fast-closing finish to be second. The situation is similar in some respects this week as Women Layer is back with pylon position, and the Brett Pelling-trained Dandy Ideal (Tim Tetrick) in a good spot from post four.

Although he is happy with his horse and the inside draw, Gingras knows the Potomac is not an easy race to win.

"Usually it's a crazy race," said Gingras. "It's always big miles and big fractions, and then these horses have to come back six days later for the FanDuel. It's definitely not easy on them."

The 2026 Potomac Pace also includes the leading money winner from the division in Prince Hal Hanover. A 4-year-old son of Captaintreacherous who will be headed off to stallion duty in 2027, Prince Hal Hanover has danced every stakes dance and only missed the board twice in 19 starts. He'll leave from post six with Todd McCarthy driving for trainer Dr. Ian Moore.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

Gingras is seeking his second Potomac Pace win. His first came in 2023 with Bythemissal, who starts from post three with Dexter Dunn in the bike for the first time in the gelding's $2.7 million-earning career.

Others in the field include local standout Lou's Starr (post two, Corey Braden), Coaches Corner (post five, Jason Bartlett), Mossdale Ben N (post seven, Jim Marohn Jr.) and Surreal Ideal (post eight, Justin Walters).

The Potomac Pace is the anchor leg of a cross-track "Ultimate Harness Pick 4" that kicks off with the $50,000 Pete Medhurst Memorial from Rosecroft (Race 7) and is sandwiched with races six and seven from Woodbine Mohawk Park. The wager has a 50-cent minimum and is expected to start at 8:00 P.M. and finish at about 9:20 P.M.

Other wagering highlights include a pair of 15% takeout Pick 4s starting in races five and 11.