Maxdaddy Blue Chip (Mickey McNichol) was a 12-1 upset winner in Sunday's Tioga Downs feature, taking the $12,000 Open Pace in 1:49.3.
The five-year-old Sportswriter gelding sat back in fourth for most of the race watching as the two favourites, Clear Vision (Larry Staulbaum) and Pretty Boy Hill (Jason Bartlett), duelled all the way to the backstretch. After Pretty Boy tired before the paddock turn, Clear Vision was left alone on the lead as they turned for home. Andreios Kardia (Aaron Byron) looked poised to take over after leaving the pocket in the stretch, but McNichol guided Maxdaddy Blue Chip, who is owned by Fred Monteleone, three-wide down the lane to get the victory.
Maxdaddy Blue Chip, who is trained by McNichol, paid $27 to win. Clear Vision did hang on for second and Andreios Kardia was third.
Live harness racing resumes at Tioga Downs on Friday (May 19) at 6:50 p.m.
(With files from Tioga Downs)