Angel Or Terror is best at Plainridge
May 22, 2018,by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts
Plainville, MA — A full field of nine of the best pacing mares on the grounds lined up for the $16,000 Winners-Over distaff pacing feature at Plainridge Park on Tuesday afternoon (May 22) and after a thrilling stretch drive, Angel Or Terror proved she was the best of the bunch.
Tom Melanson photo
Angel Or Terror (#1) reaches in the last strides at Plainridge Park.
Driver Eddie Davis Jr. took Angel Or Terror off the gate and settled in fourth as Western Stepp (Drew Campbell) made a decisive bolt for the lead, where she would then dictate the pace. After getting to the quarter in :26.1, Western Stepp had little pressure to deal with other than Shesgotthebeat (Nick Graffam), who got parked and was floating on the rim third.
Campbell slowed the half to :55.1 before trying to get away from the pack in the third panel with a :28 split. Under heavy urging around the far turn, Western Stepp opened up a two-length advantage and was looking like a winner at the head of the stretch. But the pace must have gotten to the leader, as Angel Or Terror came off the pylons from third, tipped three-wide around Caviart Caterina (Mike Stevenson) and collared Western Stepp at the wire to win by a neck in 1:53.1.
Owned by Eric Prevost, who claimed her for $15,000 after her first Plainridge start on May 1, Angel Or Terror ($8.80) registered her second 2018 win and a new seasonal mark for trainer Elisha Lafreniere.
Three drivers scored two wins on Tuesday: Shawn Gray, Drew Campbell and Mitchell Cushing, who lit up the tote board in the ninth race when he won with Freetime at 31-1 and paid $64.40. It also triggered a 3-4-7 trifecta that returned $2,339 and a 3-4-7-1 superfecta that paid $4,315.40, both for a $2 bet.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon (May 24) at 4:00 p.m. where there will be a $3,363 Wicked Hi-5 carryover pool available in the sixth race.