After two late scratches, five trotters went to post in a $9,200 GLADA Trot at Northfield Park on Saturday night (Jan. 1) with Lauren Harmon guiding her own Emerald Chip to a 1:58.2 victory.
When the gate sprung, Bill Rhodes sent Infrontandforgetit to the lead and played hardball with Harmon keeping her Emerald Chip on the limb, a place where she raced until the top of the lane when her trotter took command and rambled home an easy 4-1/4 length winner.
Obviously, two-horse position wasn't bad since the track was firmer there and Harmon wasn't bothered by being parked out.
When the leaders zipped by the three-quarters, Emerald Chip and Infrontandforgetit were heads apart but, once they straightened for home, Emerald Chip cleared his competition and began to open daylight and cruised home all alone in a creditable 1:58.2 over the soggy racetrack. In the deep stretch, Kinda Cool Lady, second choice in the wagering, rallied to finish second for Eddie Miller while Infrontandandforgetit faded and finished third.
The winner, a nine-year-old Chip Chip Hooray gelding, is also owned and trained by Harmon.
Sent off as the favourite in the race, Emerald Chip paid $4.20.
(With files from GLADA)