Two divisions for Smullin

Two divisions of the Wayne Smullin Memorial Pace, each worth $64,565, are featured on the Saturday program at Rosecroft Raceway and some of the nation's best freshman contenders will meet on the Maryland oval.

In the ninth race, Mattdultery is set to open on the board as the 9-5 early choice. The son of Real Desire out of The Mattican has been traveling the country to compete in various stakes events for the owner partnership of Bill Camp Jr. (Virginia), Teague Inc. (Delaware) and the Double Down Stable (New Jersey).

Over the past two months, Mattdultery has proven himself victorious in divisions of the Reynolds at Pocono Downs, the Niatross at the Meadowlands and the Arden Downs at The Meadows. The colt, trained by George Teague Jr., holds a lifetime mark of 1:53.1 set at the Big M two starts back. Tony Morgan will pick up the catch-drive, and the pair will leave the gate from post position four.

Rusty's For Real is another top contender at 2-1 morning line odds from post position six. The son of Real Artist, owned by the Carter Racing Stable LLC of Delaware, is eying his fourth consecutive win coming into this race. Most recently, Rusty's For Real wired the field in a division of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes at Pocono Downs in 1:53.1. Trainer Bob Myers has called upon Brad Hanners for the driving assignment once again; Hanners has been in the sulky for each of the colt's pari-mutuel wins to date.

At 5-1 early odds, Always A Virgin has been dominating the Rosecroft oval this month. Last week, the Western Ideal colt won by over six lengths in 1:55.2 and prior to that, beat a maiden field by more than 12 lengths in 1:55.4. Owned by the Roll The Dice Stable of Delaware, Always A Virgin will leave the gate from post five with Victor Kirby at his lines. Josh Green trains the talented colt.

Mr. Aviator (Kevin Sizer, 6-1), Yankee Man (John Wagner, 6-1) and Jesse's Bad Boy (Donnie Russell, 8-1) round out the first division field.

In race 11, the field of six is evenly matched; the lukewarm early choice of Jesse N Echo will open on the board at 5-2 odds. The Badlands Hanover colt, another trainee of Teague, recently romped in two divisions of the Maryland Standardbred Race Fund at Ocean Downs and Rosecroft. The colt, owned by John Celii of Pennsylvania, will leave the gate from post three with Hanners in the sulky. Jesse N Echo has a lifetime mark of 1:53.4 set at Rosecroft and will look for his third consecutive win going into this race.

From the rail, Outsource is the 3-1 second choice. Also hailing from the school of trainer Teague, the Matt's Scooter colt shows strong miles on the New Jersey tracks. Owned by Teague Inc., the colt took a mark of 1:53.3 at the Meadowlands back in June and recently won at Freehold Raceway in 1:58.1.

Ruff Me Up will open at 4-1 odds. The son of Real Artist, owned by Val D'or Farms and Schoor Racing Stable LLC of New Jersey, has yet to earn a career win but shows strong speed. In a division of the Woodrow Wilson at the Meadowlands, Ruff Me Up finished third with a mile in 1:53.1 (closing quarter of :27.2). Trainer Steve Elliott has named Jonathan Roberts to drive and the pair will face the starter in post six.

Southern Myles (Tony Morgan, 9-2), Mountain Air (John Wagner, 10-1) and Rustys Casino (Victor Kirby, 7-1) will also contend for their share of the purse.

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