Blue Ivy made it two in a row in the $20,000 Filly & Mare Open at MGM Northfield Park on Saturday night (May 13).
Cyclone Seelster (Billy Davis Jr.) jumped on Blue Ivy (Aaron Merriman) into the first turn. The pair would duel, entering the backstretch with the daughter of Captaintreacherous coming away with the lead.
At the quarter in :27, the field stacked up behind Blue Ivy, with race favourite Coastal (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) coming away in third. Merriman wasn't able to get much of a breather in the second quarter, getting to the half in :55.4, with Rock Me Cristal (Ryan Stahl) and Mystical Virgin (Kurt Sugg) beginning a bid on the outside.
The pace began to quicken, entering the backstretch with Rock Me Cristal advancing on the outside to overtake Cyclone Seelster at three-quarters in 1:23.2.
Turning for home, Cyclone Seelster found room inside to take her shot at the big mare but came up a head short as Blue Ivy was kept to task, winning in 1:51.3. Rock Me Cristal tired but dug in to finish third.
Owned by trainer Renee Bercury, Blue Ivy earned her 53rd career victory and pushed her earnings to $783,910.
Live harness racing resumes on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. at MGM Northfield Park.
(Northfield Park; Photo of Blue Ivy winning on April 22)