Rosecroft: Three-year-olds battle in Maryland Sire Stakes finals

$87,500 Maryland Sire Stakes finals for 3-year-olds topped Tuesday night's action at Rosecroft Raceway, with victories going to Only I Exist, Geralds A Keeper, Tony Babe and Fancy Like That.

Only I Exist (Russell Foster) won the non-wagering filly trot by four lengths over Emily's Locket (Trae Porter) 2:00 3/5. Only I Exist led the way through panels of 29 3/5, 1:01 1/5 and 1:31 4/5, then used a 28 4/5 final kicker to seal the deal.

A daughter of Y'all Beneath Me, Only I Exist competes for breeder/owner/trainer Richard Hans. She has a record of 9-0-0 from ten career starts and has earned $197,881.

Front-end tactics also worked in the trio of finals on the pari-mutuel program. Geralds A Keeper (Porter) bagged the colt and gelding trot by three-quarters of a length in 1:56 4/5 after he clicked off fractions of 28, 58 4/5 and 1:27 2/5. K J Dash (Victor Kirby) was next, followed by War Pony (Foster).

Trainer John Wagner, who was first and second in this final, sent out the victorious Lockkeeper gelding for owner/breeder Pamela Wagner. Geralds A Keeper made his third appearance in the winner's circle, has put away $69,170 and returned $4.20 to win as the favorite.

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Tony Babe (Jonathan Roberts) pulled off an 11-1 upset in the colt and gelding pace. He was in front at the 27 second opening quarter, 55 3/5 half and 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, and a 29 2/5 last quarter got him to the finish line 2 1/2 lengths ahead of Firecrackergraham (Foster). Petes For Real (Kirby) checked in third.

Ronald Short bred, owns and trains Tony Babe, a gelded son of Rusty's For Real. Tony Babe is now a two-time winner in his life, has pocketed $62,025 and paid $25.80 to win.

Fancy Like That was the 1-9 favorite in the filly pace and didn't disappoint, prevailing in 1:53 3/5. She carved out stations of 27 1/5, 56 and 1:24 3/5 and never had an anxious moment to the wire, tallying by 2 3/4 lengths. Yourgracefound Me (Eric Davis) was the runner-up and Covid For Real (Corey Braden) grabbed third.

Kasey Bendix trains Fancy Like That, a Rusty's For Real filly, and also bred and co-owns her with Virginia Marvel. Fancy Like That has 11 wins and three seconds from 19 trips behind the gate, has banked $130,750 and paid $2.10 to win.