A Blue Million trotted his way to his fourth consecutive victory and his second straight in the $34,722 Open Handicap Trot at Bally’s Dover on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
A Blue Million and Last Glow (Jack Parker Jr.) charged quickest away from the starting gate and trotted into the first turn together. A Blue Million cleared to the lead for Montrell Teague before the quarter in :28, but not before being parked out by a stubborn Last Glow. Speed Away (Corey Callahan) also left from the outside and found a seat in third. Arrowhead Hanover (Tony Morgan) attempted a quarter-pole move from fourth, but A Blue Million refused to yield and gave the cold shoulder to that rival through the half in :56.1.
The battle continued up the backstretch into the frigid temperatures, and A Blue Million was finally able to put away a tough Arrowhead Hanover past three-quarters in 1:24.4. A squadron of trotters began to take flight from the back, all in pursuit of a battle-worn A Blue Million as Arrowhead Hanover weakened. At the top of the lane, Victor Laszlo (Eric Davis), the 2-1 favourite, geared up three-wide and Muscle Dynasty (Pat Berry) was carried out four-wide. Last Glow was preparing to make his presence felt from the pocket and charged along the pylons, but A Blue Million showed grit and held on to win by a half-length in 1:53.1, a lifetime mark despite the freezing conditions. Last Glow finished second and Speed Away was third.
A Blue Million won his fourth start in a row since moving to Dover for owner Stephen Stoll and trainer Tim Crissman. The five-year-old son of Swan In A Million-Ipo Blue Chip is now 15-for-58 lifetime. He returned $7.60 to win for his investors.
Tim Tetrick won four races on the 15-race card.
The feature race at Dover on the upcoming Wednesday card is the $25,000 USD Fillies and Mares Open Handicap Pace. The contenders include Ballast, last week's winner, and Square Deal, who is in search of her fourth consecutive victory.
(With files from Dover Downs)