Bottom claimers got a unique opportunity to race for a $20,000 purse Monday afternoon at Miami Valley Raceway in the championship leg of the popular Survivor Series.

Ninety-one $5,000 claimers paid $100 entry fees to start the elimination tournament on January 11 in ten divisions. The top three finishers plus the six fastest fourth-place finishers advanced to Round 2 a week later, comprised of four divisions. Following a cancelled card on January 25, two semi-final fields faced the starter on February 1 with the top half of the finishers qualifying for the lucrative championship.

Peck Blue Chip, despite narrowly surviving the early rounds with two third-place and one fourth-place finishes, was crowned Survivor Series King with a 1:54.2 upset victory for driver Josh Sutton, trainer Daniel Jones and owner Miracle Meadows LLC. Back At Cha (LeWayne Miller), part of a favoured Todd Rosenberg-owned entry, finished second; while Sammy Storm (Jason Brewer), who was claimed in each of the preliminary elimination rounds, garnered the show dough. Peck Blue Chip paid $17.00 to win.

Sutton wrestled the winner off the gate and retreated to the pylons through a :27.4 opening quarter. Miami Valley’s current leading driver pulled into the outer flow just prior to the half, but still had five horses to pass. Abandoning the second-over position at the three-quarter station, Peck Blue Chip was angled three-wide coming off the final turn and responded with a strong stretch drive to secure the triumph.

Although Peck Blue Chip now has 21 career wins and $168,585 in earnings, the $10,000 winner’s share of the championship purse is the son of Art Major’s largest ever payday. Although he finished second as a two-year-old in The Standardbred stake at Delaware, Ohio, and had won several $25,000 claiming races at Hoosier Park in 2013, Peck Blue Chip’s tally in the Survivor Series final has been his largest single financial success.

The win was one of four on the program for Josh Sutton, who entered the day tied with Jeremy Smith for the meet dash lead. He also scored with Caseofthesillies (1:56.1, $8.00 to win), Mojito Hanover (1:54, $4.80) and Dollys Girl (1:54, $11.80).

Sutton now sports 36 wins through the first 22 days of the 2016 meet. Jeremy Smith is second with 33, followed by Dan Noble, Tyler Smith and Trace Tetrick—all deadlocked with 29. Rounding out the Top Ten are Chris Page 26, Kayne Kauffman 24, John DeLong 20, Randy Tharps 19 and LeWayne Miller 14.

(Miami Valley Raceway)