Hot Shot Blue Chip staged a furious rally to win the featured Open Trot on Friday night in one of the fastest trotting times ever recorded at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs. The race carried the night’s top purse of $50,000

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Leaving from post position No. 2 in a field of seven as a 7-2 shot, Hot Shot Blue Chip, a five-year-old gelding from the barn of trainer Jonas Czernyson, settled fifth early on as Lolique cut out the mile with imposing fractions.

Driver Joe Pavia Jr. sent Hot Shot Blue Chip to the outside third-over on the back stretch. At the top of the lane, he had a clear shot but was still several lengths behind the leader.

As Lolique laboured late, Hot Shot Blue Chip uncorked an overpowering move to just get up to win by a head in a scorching 1:51.3. Looking Hanover finished third.

Hot Shot Blue Chip, owned by Thomas Dillon of Anson, Maine, and sired by Revenue S, won for the third time in 12 races this season. The well-travelled gelding, who has made stops in Indiana, New York, New Jersey, and Canada of late, picked up his 14th career victory and pushed his lifetime earnings to $631,627.

(Pocono Downs)