Protect Blue Chip went off as the heavy favourite in Buffalo Raceway's featured $10,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace on Wednesday night (Feb. 3) and, despite some anxious moments with a photo finish, she didn't disappoint in the end.
After managing to get the lead just before the opening panel, Protect Blue Chip set the splits with fractions of :28.2, :59.4 and 1:27.3. Things got tight near the wire as Whos Got The Move and Lady London surrounded Protect Blue Chip, but their combined efforts came up short in the photo from the 1:56.3 mile.
It was the first win of the season for Protect Blue Chip (American Ideal-Lucky Turn) and moved her seasonal earnings to $5,800 and $135,165 lifetime. She paid $3.50 to win.
The victory was just one of four on the evening for owners Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Team Rice Racing and Adelphia Bloodstock along with trainer Maria Rice and driver Billy Davis Jr. They also enjoyed wins by Little Joke ($3.40), Teardown This Wall ($4.60) and Keystone Apache ($2.90).
Jim Morrill Jr. completed the evening with a driving triple while Gerry Sarama had three training victories.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening (Feb. 6) with a 10-race program scheduled with a post time set for 5 p.m. (EST).
(Buffalo Raceway)