Chips And Wings, a conditioned claimer only five weeks ago, used his early speed to secure the pocket, then powered home Wednesday to score in 1:54.1, equaling The Meadows’ track record for four-year-old trotting stallions
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Formerly trained by Ron Burke, new owner/trainer Bethie Murdock claimed Chips And Wings from his Feb. 26 conditioned claiming event and quickly advanced him to the Preferred Handicap ranks, where he was hampered by poor post positions. In Wednesday’s $16,500 conditioned trot, he moved to the lead for Tony Hall and sat behind the swift Up Front Ben, who took the field through three-quarters in a demanding 1:25.1.
Chips And Wings had plenty left for the drive, brushing past the game Up Front Ben to defeat that rival by 2 lengths. Primo Spur was a ground-saving third. The time, fastest this year by a 4-year-old trotting stallion on a 5/8-mile track, equaled the track record jointly held by Yankee Douglas and Hope’s Victory.
The win vaulted Chips And Wings, a son of Chip Chip Hooray-Silent Wings, over the $100,000 mark in career earnings. Dave Palone drove three winners on the 13-race card.
(The Meadows)