Terre Haute went all the way to Massachusetts to score a win Monday, April 10 at Plainridge. The Indiana sired gelding scored a convincing win in 1:54.4.
Terre Haute returns to the winner’s circle Monday, April 10 at Plainridge for his first career win.
Terre Haute didn’t flash any early speed as Use Yah Blinkah and James Hardy pursued the top, grabbing the lead just after the quarter in :27.3, placing Rock the Belles and Shawn T Gray in the two hole. Everyone lined up behind the leader in single file with Terre Haute resting in fourth. There was no movement at the half in :57.1 and it wasn’t until the three-quarter pole was in sight that Terre Haute tipped to the outside, the first to challenge. Terre Haute rallied up on the outside for Kevin Switzer Jr.
Terre Haute had almost caught up with Use Yah Blinkah at the head of the stretch and once he had matched him stride for stride, he pulled into the lead. The only late threat came from Rock the Belles, who shook loose in the stretch and began to close in mildly, but it was all Terre Haute at the wire, winning by one length over Rock the Belles. Fellow Indiana sired contender Rockstars Racer, a son of Always a Virgin, finished third for Pat Curtin.
Terre Haute paid $6.40 for the win. The four-year-old son of Rockin Image is owned by John DeAntonio Jr. of Massachusetts and is trained by Robert Marston. Steve Stewart, Dan Shetler and Kristin Shetler bred the gelding, who earned his first career win. Unraced at two, he made 14 starts last season with no wins. He now has one win and one second in two starts for 2023. He started his career off in Indiana under the Shetler Stable and eventually made his way to the Meadows. He was making his first start for his current connections.
Another Indiana winner on the Monday card at Plainridge was Checkpoint Chatter for driver Pat Curtin. The five-year-old daughter of Always a Virgin pulled first up and wore down the leaders, grabbing the win by a neck at the finish line in 1:53.4. Howdoyalikeit, also an Indiana sired mare by JK Endofanera, finished second for driver Matthew Athearn while Don’t Trip and Bruce Ranger, who cut the mile, finished third.
Checkpoint Chatter was a longshot, paying $37.00. Upland Farm of Massachusetts owns the mare, who as bred by Alan Troyer. Donald Guidette trains Checkpoint Chatter, who was making her first start of 2023. The mile was one tick off her career best time of 1:53.3 taken last year at Plainridge. Overall, she has 11 wins in 75 starts and $121,000 on her card. She started her career at Harrah’s Hoosier Park as a two-year-old under the direction of Ronnie Gillespie.