Hypnotic Blue Chip, a career winner of more than $1.7 million, rolled from second-over Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $35,000 Open Pace.
Leaving from post position No. 5--in his first local appearance since a leg of the 2010 George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series--Hypnotic Blue Chip (Brian Sears) was content to spectate early. There was a lot to look at, as 3-5 favourite Great Vintage (George Brennan) had to work to get around pole-sitting Woodstock Hanover (Eric Goodell) after a :26.3 opening quarter-mile.
From there, Eighteen (Mark MacDonald) had designs on the lead, briefly taking over before Great Vintage reclaimed. After a :55.3 intermission, 39-1 rank outsider Bettor Design (Brent Holland) took a shot, with Hypnotic Blue Chip stalking that one.
Great Vintage disposed of the longshot after a 1:23.4 three-quarters and had a length and a half lead into the lane. Unfortunately for chalk players across the fruited plains, he soon dropped anchor. Hypnotic Blue Chip rolled wide and rolled past, winning by a half-length in 1:52.2. A third-over Casimir Jitterbug (Jason Bartlett) rallied into second, with Annieswesterncard (Yannick Gingras), last early, closing for third. Woodstock Hanover and Eighteen grabbed the remainder, while Great Vintage backpedaled to the back, finishing last among the octet.
For Hypnotic Blue Chip, a six-year-old statebred son of Art Major owned by Fran Azur and trained by Kevin McDermott, he returned $8.40 (second choice) for his seventh win in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $112.50, with the triple returning $724.
Owner Azur and trainer McDermott also saw Noble Falcon (Jordan Stratton, $12.20) become harness racing's newest millionaire with a 1:52.4 win, his 47th lifetime, in the $28,000 eighth-race pace. The eight-year-old Nobleland Sam gelding hit seven figures the old-fashioned way, making his 229th career start.
Saturday's total handle for the dozen-race dossier was a robust $1,075,326.
(With files from Yonkers Raceway)