Rosecroft Raceway will present its marquee race on Sunday (November 17) with the $125,000 Potomac Pace. Scheduled as race 11 on the 14-race program that starts at 3:00 PM (ET), the race for older pacers attracted most of the division leaders to form a very competitive eight-horse affair. Let’s take a look at the field: 1: CHARLIE MAY – He comes off a win but you have to wonder if he is still up to winning versus a field like this one. His early speed is nice, but this field is loaded with horses that can leave. Fringe player only. 2: IT’S MY SHOW – At his best he is certainly fast enough to win. The key for him is typically what type of trip he gets. When he’s able to sit second and third along the pylons or on cover, he can pace home with the best of them. 3: ABUCKABETT HANOVER – Divisional leader in earnings was used hard in the Breeders Crown and paid the price in a race where the leaders all fell apart. He has the post edge here and I suspect driver Dexter Dunn will be more patient. 4: VOUKEFALAS – He had his big moment in the Graduate final versus 4-year-olds but otherwise hasn’t proven himself to be competitive on the win end versus the top dogs in the division; needs to step up. 5: EL REY – Finished a solid third in the Breeders Crown and since has the looks of a horse who has turned the corner. The jury is still out on whether he is as fast as the best in here but there are worse longshots you could play to hit the ticket. 6: BYTHEMISSAL – Ron Burke trainee was the beaten 2-5 favorite in the Breeders Crown and while he was first-up, his effort was definitely lacking to some extent. There is no denying he is one of if not the best horse in the field; playable at 2-1 or higher. 7: LITTLE ROCKET MAN – takes a rare trip to the East coast after a couple of wins versus softer. Is he as sharp as he was back in September? That’s a good question. Eight-year-old has a chance if the race sets up right for him. 8: RUTHLESS HANOVER – When you look up “speed of the speed” in the racing dictionary you’ll find a picture of this horse. He’s a whiz over the five-eighths and actually holds the North American record (1:46 3/5) over that sized surface. The outside draw isn’t ideal but post eight does better here than most tracks, winning at a healthy 9.7%. [DRF HARNESS: Get free Rosecroft Harness Eye PPs!] For me, ABUCKABETT HANOVER has a huge tactical edge on his main rivals having drawn inside and he’s one of just three in the field that can take on heat or a bad trip and survive – the other two being RUTHLESS HANOVER and BYTHEMISSAL. Given the potential prices of all the horses, Abuckabett Hanover and Ruthless Hanover are the two most attractive plays given ability and probably off odds. EL REY and IT’S MY SHOW are probably the best longshot players, though the former is more of an exotics-only horse while the latter is more capable on the win end. Good luck!