Rosecroft: Roberts scores 5,000th career win

Driver Jonathan Roberts reached the 5,000-win milestone of his career on Monday (Feb. 16) at Rosecroft Raceway when he teamed Freaky Feet Beast to a 12-1 upset in the night's eighth race, a $7,500 conditioned claiming pace.

Roberts powered to the front from post 9 with Freaky Feet Beast and controlled fractions of :27 and :56 3/5 before facing a stern first-over challenge from Playin For Real (driven by Justin Walters) up the backstretch and through the far turn. After shrugging off Playin For Real upon cornering for home, Freaky Feet Beast and Roberts dug in to stave off a ferocious late rally from 3-5 favorite Levi At Play (Roger Plante Jr.) to win by a diminishing neck in 1:54 4/5.

Roberts' father, William "Bib" Roberts, trains Freaky Feet Beast for Kiwi Stables — of whom Roberts is a partner — and Graham Grace Stables. The 4-year-old Freaky Feet Pete-Keene Supreme gelding paid $26.20 to win.

Four races later, the 44-year-old Roberts came back to score his 5,001st win, doing so with Sheer Terror (1:52 1/5, $2.40) in a $9,000 top-level conditioned pace.

'BLAKE' IS BACK: Despite being shuffled severely up the backstretch behind a plummeting Layton Hanover, Johnny Crites Jr.'s Spring Blake came roaring back through the far turn to post a two-length, 1:53 1/5 win over Lyons Stealth and A Major Attitude in the $12,000 Open Handicap Pace and return $3.60 to win as the 4-5 favorite. The win was one of three on the card for driver Russell Foster, who also teamed Hippo Hanover (1:56 2/5, $6.80) and Sea Of Life (1:54 4/5, $23.20) to victory.

NOTES: Multiple players had the winning Jackpot Hi-5 combination of 4-5-6-2-8, good for $725.10 on a 50-cent ticket. The carryover for Thursday's (Feb. 19) Hi-5 now stands at $17,278.92. ... Total all-sources handle for the 13-race card was $379,265, the highest of the meet to date. ... Live racing returns to Rosecroft on Thursday; first post for the 13-race card is 7:15 p.m.

-edited release (Rosecroft Raceway)