Having to start from the eight-hole and then being parked until after the half didn't deter driver Marion Chupp from his mission to win the $6,500 Great Lakes Amateur Drivers Association (GLADA) Trot Saturday (Dec. 5) at Northfield Park.
Chupp was up behind his own Curlys Son, an eight-year-old RC Royalty gelding, and together they rebuffed any and all challengers in progress to a 1:58.2 victory.
Sent the soft second choice (7-2) in the 9-horse field, Chupp gunned his trotter for the lead, but that didn't come easily as Curlys Son was being challenged by Alan, who was driven by Emanuel Miller. That duel went until the latter made a break.
Jimmy Lupton, who was traveling second over, then took up the chase with The Next Triumph, and both he and Curlys Son raced head-to-head by three-quarters and into the stretch before The Next Triumph faded. When he did Eddie Miller was right there with Star Chip, but they couldn't get by the leader in the deep stretch and had to settle for second money. The Next Triumph held on for the show dough.
Chupp also owns and trains Curlys Son, who paid $8.60 for win.
(GLADA)