FORT WASHINGTON, Md. — After chasing for a no-match second behind a track-record 1:49 performance from Lou’s Starr last week, Icaco Hanover got his share of the spotlight on Monday (Sept. 28) when he posted a career-best 1:49.3 victory in the $13,000 Open Handicap Pace at Rosecroft Raceway.
With owner Russell Foster at the lines, Icaco Hanover sprinted to the lead from post 4 and tore through fractions of :25.4, :54.1 and 1:21.3 before repelling a stern first-over challenge from Don’tmesswithles (driven by Fern Paquet Jr.) on the far turn. The 5-year-old Stay Hungry-Ideal Weather gelding worked to extend his winning margin to 2 lengths and take 2 seconds off his previous lifetime mark, taken earlier this season at Ocean Downs.
Don’tmesswithles sustained his pursuit to hold second; Layton Hanover (Jonathan Roberts) finished third from an earned pocket.
Megan Foster trains 16-time winner Icaco Hanover, who paid $2.60 to win as the 1-5 favorite.
On the undercard, a trio of Maryland-sired 3-year-olds completed sweeps of their preliminary Maryland Sire Stakes divisions to top their respective brackets heading into the $800,000 Maryland Showcase of Champions program, which will take place Oct. 11.
In the first $10,000 section for pacing fillies, summer series champ That’sloveto followed up her 1:57.2 first-round win with a last-to-first, 1:56 score over Pamfin. Johnathan Ahle drove the Dapper Dude-I Cant Stoplovinu filly for owner/trainer Dominik Miga.
The second pacing filly split also saw a repeat winner as Hagerman Racing’s More Than Better, a More The Better N-Aristobrat Hanover filly sent off at 1-20 in line to Foster, gutted out a late bid from pocket foe I’m Feeling Spicy to prevail by a nose in 1:57 for trainer Herman Hagerman.
Better Gon was the other repeat winner, capturing the first male pacing division by 4-1/2 lengths over Dapper Time in 1:56.2. Foster drove the More The Better N-Graygon gelding for trainer Adrian Wisher Jr. and owner Frederick Weitz Jr.
Foster scored a stakes grand slam in the bike, also driving trotting gelding Y’all Got No Shot to a 1:56.2 win for owner/trainer Richard Hans and trotting filly And Just Like That ($3.40) to a 13-3/4-length, 1:55 score for trainer Megan Foster and his own Russell Foster Racing LLC.
Pacing gelding Fast Willie ($7) completed the sextet of second-round winners with a 1:57 score in his split. Eric Davis drove for trainer Walter Bozman Jr., who shares ownership with Deborah Bozman.
The final race saw one astute handicapper cash out for $7,707.90 on a 50-cent Jackpot Hi-5 wager after 1-5 favorite More Than Ya Know led an 8-1-2-3-5 combination that saw the second- through fifth-place finishers all go off at odds of 37-1 or longer. As such, the Jackpot Hi-5 will start fresh when racing returns to Rosecroft on Thursday (Oct. 1).
Thursday’s program features the second preliminary round of the Maryland Sire Stakes for 2-year-olds. The first of two non-wagering events will go postward at 6 p.m. (EDT), while the 14-race pari-mutuel program will begin at 7:15 p.m. For more information, including entries, results, free past performance pages, the Players’ Guide tip sheet, and live and archived video, visit www.rosecroftraceway.com.
To view Monday’s complete results, visit the following links:
Results • Monday, Sept. 28, 2026
Results • Monday, Sept. 28, 2026 (Non-Wagering)
finish line photo of Icaco Hanover courtesy Erik Jones/Room 9 Photography
