Just like his namesake, Rip Wheeler is tough. The Indiana pacer never gave in, getting the win by a nose in the $16,000 conditioned pace Monday, April 6 at Oak Grove. Starting from post four, Rip Wheeler left the early speed to others in the race, which included a majority of Indiana sired pacers. One of those was ER Rocky and Marvin Luna from the inside who had an early advantage for a few strides before Whelk Blue Chip, also an Indiana bred, rallied up with authority for Ronnie Wrenn Jr. to take over just after the quarter in :26.4. Rip Wheeler had landed in fourth and was already on the move to the outside before the half in :55.4, but was fortunate to pick up cover behind Jada Caroline and Atlee Bender. As the field approached the three-quarter pole, Jada Caroline could not clear, moving Rip Wheeler three wide around the final turn. At the head of the lane, he only had one horse to catch and that was Whelk Blue Chip, who was still strong on the front end. It took the very last stride to get the win, but Rip Wheeler did it by a head over Whelk Blue Chip. ER Rocky maintained ground for third. Rip Wheeler paid $4.22 for the win. The now seven-year-old son of Rockin Image is owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey, David Fought, and Lili Haynes. The Cornerstone Stock Farm product, making him a homebred for Fought, is trained by Walter Haynes Jr. and is three for four this season. The stocky pacer has 32 career wins from 99 starts with earnings of more than $600,000, thanks to his win Monday at Oak Grove. His career best time of 1:48.1 was taken as a four-year-old at Pocono Downs. Rip Wheeler is out of the mare, Novascotia Hanover, a winner in 1:51.1 and earnings of more than a half million. The mare is a near 100 percent producer as Rip Wheeler joins Rock N Zeus (1:52.3), Uncle Richard (1:51.2), and Nothinbutthebest (1:56.0) as winners from the family. Earlier in the day, E Mode’s Desire earned another win this year at the age of 10 for owner Mike Peterson. The Real Desire gelding has accumulated 30 career wins and took his career mark of 1:49.1 at Hoosier Park as a five-year-old. A one time Indiana Sired Fair Circuit contender, E Mode’s Desire traveled in the two hole before moving in the stretch and grabbing the win by one and one-half lengths for driver Marvin Luna. Great Seats and Wyatt Avenatti finished second over Tickled to Tears and Atlee Bender. E Mode’s Desire paid $5.56 for the win. He is being trained right now by Randy Crisler for Peterson.

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Just like his namesake, Rip Wheeler is tough. The Indiana pacer never gave in, getting the win by a nose in the $16,000 conditioned pace Monday, April 6 at Oak Grove. Starting from post four, Rip Wheeler left the early speed to others in the race, which included a majority of Indiana sired pacers. One of those was ER Rocky and Marvin Luna from the inside who had an early advantage for a few strides before Whelk Blue Chip, also an Indiana bred, rallied up with authority for Ronnie Wrenn Jr. to take over just after the quarter in :26.4. Rip Wheeler had landed in fourth and was already on the move to the outside before the half in :55.4, but was fortunate to pick up cover behind Jada Caroline and Atlee Bender. As the field approached the three-quarter pole, Jada Caroline could not clear, moving Rip Wheeler three wide around the final turn. At the head of the lane, he only had one horse to catch and that was Whelk Blue Chip, who was still strong on the front end. It took the very last stride to get the win, but Rip Wheeler did it by a head over Whelk Blue Chip. ER Rocky maintained ground for third. Rip Wheeler paid $4.22 for the win. The now seven-year-old son of Rockin Image is owned by Jeff Fought Racing, Brian Carsey, David Fought, and Lili Haynes. The Cornerstone Stock Farm product, making him a homebred for Fought, is trained by Walter Haynes Jr. and is three for four this season. The stocky pacer has 32 career wins from 99 starts with earnings of more than $600,000, thanks to his win Monday at Oak Grove. His career best time of 1:48.1 was taken as a four-year-old at Pocono Downs. Rip Wheeler is out of the mare, Novascotia Hanover, a winner in 1:51.1 and earnings of more than a half million. The mare is a near 100 percent producer as Rip Wheeler joins Rock N Zeus (1:52.3), Uncle Richard (1:51.2), and Nothinbutthebest (1:56.0) as winners from the family. Earlier in the day, E Mode’s Desire earned another win this year at the age of 10 for owner Mike Peterson. The Real Desire gelding has accumulated 30 career wins and took his career mark of 1:49.1 at Hoosier Park as a five-year-old. A one time Indiana Sired Fair Circuit contender, E Mode’s Desire traveled in the two hole before moving in the stretch and grabbing the win by one and one-half lengths for driver Marvin Luna. Great Seats and Wyatt Avenatti finished second over Tickled to Tears and Atlee Bender. E Mode’s Desire paid $5.56 for the win. He is being trained right now by Randy Crisler for Peterson.