Splash Blue Chip won her second-consecutive New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) event of the year with a win of 1:57.1 on Monday (July 26) at Monticello Raceway.
The field of seven was whittled to six after a post-time scratch of Dream Chapter. Splash Blue Chip, the 1-5 favourite starting from post position 5, eased away from the gate to get the lead and had two lengths on the pack as they hit the first quarter in :29.1. The gap was still the same at both the half in :58.2 and the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3. It looked as though Splash Blue was going to wade to an easy win, but her stablemate Illuminata, who sat in the garden spot the entire mile, had other plans and took advantage of the passing lane down the stretch to pose a serious threat, but made a costly miscue just meters from the line to finish second. Finishing third was Titans Hope. The time for the mile was 1:57.1.
Splash Blue Chip, the strapping daughter of E L Titan, was driven to victory by driver, trainer and part owner Ake Svanstedt, who co-owns with Mellby Gard Inc. of Delray Beach, Fla. With the win, her seasonal earnings are now in excess of $95,000. Splash Blue Chip is now tied for first place with Moni For Lindy for overall points in her category.
In Excelsior A action, Izzy Demsky ($3.00) and Mattias Melander scored a wire-to-wire win in 2:00. Just Joshing ($3.30) scored a start to finish with a two-length win in 1:58.3. Lovey Belle ($22.40) benefited from a great drive from Jason Bartlett to score in 2:00 over the favourite Insured Am S. The lone Excelsior B event saw Ruinoutofrsntorun and Jason Bartlett hold off Summer Storm ($6.50) in 2:03.
In the Fillies and Mares Open Pace, Beauty Is Blind extended her win streak to three, scoring in 1:55.2 for trainer Christopher Petrelli. With the win, Petrelli sits in fourth place with 34 winners hailing from his barn. Blue Chip Farms stallions ruled the afternoon, with E L Titan siring three winners and Chapter Seven with a pair. Driver Jason Bartlett had two winners on the afternoon.
(Monticello Raceway)