Dispatched as the prohibitive 3-5 favourite, Jeffrey Bamond's Blatantly Good ($3.40) made his 2010 Chester Racetrack debut a winning one, as he held off a throng of late challengers to win the featured $32,000 Open Pace in 1:52 on Sunday, April 25.
"He really does race some of his best races from behind, but I knew that Timmy (driver Tim Tetrick) was going to leave with Hypnotic Blue Chip and that would have put me around eighth, so we had to take a shot," remarked driver Richie Silverman about his strategy aboard the six-year-old son of Albert Albert.
After floating off the gate and getting away mid-pack, Silverman and Blatantly Good were parked through the entire first turn by a pocket-sitting Mystery Chase (driven by George Napolitano, Jr.). Silverman would go on to patiently work Blatantly Good to the front past a :27.1 opening quarter, which was posted by Chester newcomer Booze Cruzin (David Miller).
Clearing past the stands on the first occasion, Blatantly Good kept the pace lively through a :55 opening half-mile before facing the wind -- and a major challenger -- up the backstretch. Hypnotic Blue Chip moved first-over up the backstretch, offered mild pressure to Blatantly Good past three-quarters (1:23.2) and then ratcheted up the heat on the far turn.
Despite the presence of Hypnotic Blue Chip, Silverman's confidence in his mount, a Mark Kesmodel trainee, remained unwavering. "My horse always gives his race, and I thought he'd just pace away at the top of the stretch. I asked him a little bit, but he always does what he has to do."
Blatantly Good turned away Hypnotic Blue Chip and also held off the pocket-sitting Booze Cruzin and Mystery Chase for a one-length victory.
Live racing resumes at Chester on Wednesday, April 28 with first post at 12:45 p.m. (ET).
(With files from Chester)