Chip Chip Mac made a confident quarter-pole move to the lead for Tony Hall, then hung on in the stretch to capture a division of the Triple Diamond Series
at The Meadows. Staying Smooth was placed the winner in Monday’s other $15,000 division of the second leg of the series for three and four-year-old colt and gelding trotters, giving Hall a driving sweep of the splits.
Sitting third behind early leader Skymaster Ross, Chip Chip Mac moved crisply to the front and was strong enough to repel the outside challengers. But Skymaster Ross had plenty of trot left, charging through the Lightning Lane and erasing most of the deficit. Chip Chip Mac prevailed by a neck in a career-best 1:58.2, with King Chip K a rallying third.
Tye Loy trains Chip Chip Mac, a four-year-old son of Chip Chip Hooray-Macs Caper K, for Bob Key.
Pinned inside before shaking loose late, Staying Smooth appeared destined for a place finish behind Global Winner K, a 17-race maiden entering the race, who had made a second-over move to the front. But when Global Winner K broke stride in the shadow of the wire, Staying Smooth was promoted from second to first, with Global Winner K placed back to second. Monsieur De Vie was third.
Steve Bush trains Staying Smooth, a 4-year-old son of Conway Hall-Armbro Sassafras who has won two straight in the Triple Diamond, and owns with Mark Zallenick and Russell Zallenick.
Hall drove four winners and Aaron Merriman three on the 13-race card.
(The Meadows)