It was a 'blue chip' performance by Protect Blue Chip as she captured the $10,200 Class A-Open Handicapped Pace for the filly and mares at Buffalo Raceway on Wednesday evening.
Wonderful World (David McNeight III) took command from the rail in the featured event and cruised along with splits of :28.4, :58 and 1:27. Those fractions proved to be too much for Wonderful World in the end.
The first over Protect Blue Chip took over the lead with a panel to go and her cover brought Ellieonthemove into serious contention.
It turned out to be a two-horse race to the wire with Protect Blue Chip (Billy Davis, Jr.) keeping Ellieonthemove at bay and registered the length score in 1:56.1. Yankee Secret (Ray Fisher, Jr.) managed to collect the third place cheque.
Co-owned by Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Team Rice Racing and Adelphia Bloodstock Inc., it was the second win in six outings for six-year-old mare Protect Blue Chip (American Ideal-Lucky Turn). The Maria Rice trainee has now produced a bankroll of $15,140 in 2021 and $134,505 in her career. She paid $3.70 to win.
Call My Broker (McNeight III) took full advantage of the inside post and went gate to wire in winning the sub-featured $7,900 Class B trot over All About Thechase (Mike Caprio) in a seasonal best 1:58.4 over the fast track.
It didn't take long for Call My Broker to fire to the lead and put up fractions of :29.2, :59.1 and 1:29.4. In the lane, there were threats coming inside and out but Call My Broker stood strong and held off All About Thechase by a neck behind while Le Millenaire (Billy Davis, Jr.) had to settle for third.
Owned by Franklin Meier and conditioned by Angelo Nappo, it was the third victory in 11 appearances this season for the seven-year-old gelded Call My Broker (Muscle Massive-Pretty Crafty). The win jumped his seasonal earnings to $15,480 and $167,124 lifetime.
Kevin Cummings, Kyle Cummings, McNeight III and Shawn McDonough all had driving doubles while Tammy Cummings had two training wins.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening with an 11-race card scheduled with a special 7:15 p.m. post time in order to accommodate the running of the Preakness Stakes.
(Buffalo Raceway)