Operator snapped the seven-race win streak of stablemate Ponda Jet to claim the $30,137 Open Handicap Trot at Harrah's Hoosier Park on Wednesday, April 22 as the 3-2 second choice.
Flashing speed off the gate from post six for Marcus Miller, Operator landed in the pocket position as Ponda Jet (Kyle Wilfong) went around him to his usual position on the point. Ponda Jet had control of the field of seven to the quarter in :27.1 while Flagman (Rick Plano) stalked the Jay Hochstetler trainees from third.
The field raced single file behind Ponda Jet to the halfway point in :56.2 and three-quarters in 1:25.4, but itching to turn the tables after a place finish a week ago, Operator ripped out of the pocket to take aim at the leader. Working the outside, Operator this time moved alongside Ponda Jet and accelerated past him to a 2-1/4-length victory in 1:53.3. Finite found another gear to finish second between rivals, while Ponda Jet and Flagman split third in a dead heat.
Operator, a four-year-old You Know You Do-Crazyasclassic gelding, snagged his first win of the season in three tries. He is owned by Connie Hochstetler, Homer Hochstetler, Robert Buddig and Allen Schwartz. Operator boosted his lifetime earnings to $493,981 with his 10th win in 30 lifetime outings. He paid $5 to win.
A race later, trainer Suhein Matos earned career win number one as Gw Stryker ($59.40) weaved through traffic in the stretch to win at 28-1. The five-year-old son of Luck Be Withyou-Fuss N Feather surged from ninth at three-quarters for driver Jordan Ross to win by a quarter-length in 1:53.3. Matos owns the gelding, who was making his first start since 2024.
Matos is one-for-three lifetime after two starts at The Meadowlands last November. The resident of Aburn, Ind. qualified three horses at Hoosier last week, including Gw Stryker, with Snackcident and Hot Girl Summer yet to make their debuts for the trainer.
Live racing returns to Hoosier Park on Thursday. The 14-race card is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.
(With files from Hoosier Park)