Following a pair of close runner-up finishes in the Preferred ranks, Parisian Blue Chip dug in to deliver a winning performance in Friday's $26,000 high-end conditioned pace for fillies and mares featured at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Doug McNair worked out the winning trip aboard the Bettors Delight mare for trainer Shawn Steacy and owners Stephen Klunowski and David McDonald.
Major League N (Ed Hensley) established the lead off the gate with outsider Ivana Flybye N (James MacDonald) firing across the track into the pocket spot ahead of 3-5 favourite Parisian Blue Chip before the first turn.
After opening panels of :26.3 and :54.3, Parisian Blue Chip was flushed out of third by the advancing Kendall Seelster (Jason Ryan). Major League N continued to lead the way past three-quarters in 1:22.2 and into the stretch before Parisian Blue Chip reached up to steal the glory in the final strides, hitting the wire in 1:51.1 with a head in front.
Born A Dragon (Travis Cullen) closed outside from the backfield to finish just a half-length back in third. Kendall Seelster edged out Sweet Heaven (Sylvain Filion) and Hello Love (Jonathan Drury) in the compact finish for fourth prize.
Parisian Blue Chip, who returned $3.50 to win, notched her eighth victory from 24 starts during her five-year-old campaign. A 16-time career winner, she's earned just over one-third of her $315,609 bankroll this year.
Owner Klunowski also watched his pacing mare Better B Donna N ($7.20) hold on for a 1:52.4 score earlier on the program. The win was one of three on the Friday night card for the driver-trainer duo of Jonathan Drury and Carmen Auciello. They also partnered for victories with Buzz ($5) and East End ($12.70).
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.