Chatelroll made a first-over move pay big dividends after he won the $25,000 Winners-Over Handicap pace at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon.
Nick Graffam settled Chatelroll in third on the pylons while Lake Charles (Drew Campbell) and Highrthananeagle A (Drew Monti) traded leads to the quarter. Highrthananeagle A secured that position and used it to back off the half to a tepid :57.2. As the race proceeded up the backstretch, Graffam pulled Chatelroll and drew alongside Highrthananeagle A at three-quarters. The two pacers broke away from the field in step and circled the last bend as one. Down the lane Highrthananeagle A looked to have a slight advantage, but Chatelroll dug in and gave more, winning by a half-length length at the light in 1:52.4.
Chatelroll ($4.00) entered double-digit win territory after notching his 10th of the season for owner Purple Haze Stables. George Ducharme trains the slick five-year-old gelded son of Roll With Joe-Chatelaine.
Graffam ended the day with two wins on the card.
In the co-featured $20,000 upper level conditioned pace, Passport To Art (Shawn Gray) followed cover from mid-pack late to collar the front-running The Moonshadow N (Bruce Ranger) in deep stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52. It was the third victory in the last four starts and seventh win of the year for Passport To Art ($3.20) who pushed his earnings to $80,970 this year for owners Elizabeth and Dyce Spalluto. Alicia Gray trains the winner.
Shawn Gray led all drivers on Thursday as he turned the hat trick during the proceedings.
But the fastest race of the day was the $17,500 condition pace where Mansome (Drew Monti) took full advantage of a class drop to lead every step of the way before stretching out to a 2-1/2 length score in 1:51.1. Mansome ($3.40) has now earned $77,642 on the strength of his five 2021 wins for owners Bruce Weinstein and Elisha Lafreniere, who also trains the winner.
Monti and Lafreniere teamed up again later in the card to finish the day with two wins apiece.
Other horsemen scoring multiple wins were driver Jay Randall and trainer Brett Derue who each had two wins.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday (Oct. 22) at 2 p.m.
The finals of the $2.24 Massachusetts Sire Stakes will be held at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 25) at 2 p.m. Eight divisions worth $100,000 each will go postward to crown this year's state-bred champions.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)