Tres Chic Bluechip took a big step up in class at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday, April 1 but passed the tougher challenge impressively by winning the $21,528 Open Pace for the fillies and mares in 1:57 over the "good" track. 

After winning a conditioned distaff pace by a length last week in 1:57.4, Tres Chic Bluechip showed she was primed for the tougher test. 

Assigned the inside post in the six-horse field, Tres Chic Bluechip and driver Kyle Cummings were able to draft behind the tempo-setting Elegant Woman A (Drew Monti) through fractions of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:28. With a quarter of the mile to pace, all of the damsels had a chance of the victory as they were double-decked. But turning for home, Elegant Woman A was surrounded by Tres Chic Bluechip in the passing lane and McVera (David McNeight III) on the outside. In the dash to the line, the lightning lane proved to be the difference as Tres Chic Bluechip found that to be the quickest way to the finish line. McVera had to settle for second, beaten by just a head, with Elegant Woman A a length back in third.

The win was the second of the season in three starts for the seven-year-old Tres Chic Bluechip (Heston Blue Chip-Coco Chanel), who is trained by Judith Blaun and owned by John Sixt of Sardinia, New York. The 22-time career winner went over the $200,000 mark in earnings.

Tres Chic Bluechip paid $13 to win as the second-longest shot on the board at 5-1.

Racing at Buffalo will continue on Friday afternoon with another 10-race program on tap.

(With files from Buffalo Raceway)