The eliminations for this year’s Pepsi North America Cup are less than a month away, and many colts are under the gun to jump up with big performances if they want to
stay in the hunt for Canada’s richest harness race.
The first start of the season for Manhattan Blue Chip was a winning one, as the son of Art Major – Misty Flirts front-stepped his way to a 1:52.2 score for owner Leo Thibodeau of Windsor, ON.
In rein to Randy Waples, the Mark Austin-trained colt powered to immediate command from post eight and took the field through splits of :27, :56.3 and 1:24.2 before tacking on a :28-second final quarter en route to the win.
“The first time I schooled him he was huge, and then from that point on he never showed anything and never wanted to be out there and never finished his miles,” said driver Randy Waples. “He was really starting to make me wonder if he was as good as he was when I won with him as a two-year-old.
“Mark [trainer Mark Austin] kept saying ‘When he sees the lights and when he’s around the crowd and in a post parade with the other horses he’ll come around,’" added Waples. “And I’m thinking, how is that going to make him come around? But he was, he was a completely different horse when they brought him out of the paddock. He was on his game and he put his nose up on the gate and wanted to race. He was a totally different horse.”
“He’s a bit behind some of the other colts because we took some chips out of his ankles,” said trainer Mark Austin. “He’s getting a little better; a little stronger every week.”
Manhattan Blue Chip, who upped his overall bankroll to $22,450 with the win, is now 2-for-4 lifetime.
Later on the card, Bay Of Sharks sprinted to a career-best clocking of 1:52.4 for the tandem of trainer Ben Wallace and driver Mario Baillargeon. Owned by Baillargeon [MB Racing Inc.] and partners Michael and Sam Sergi of New York, the son of Cams Card Shark – Whitley Bay won for the first time this season and for the fourth time in his career.
Baillargeon rolled the colt to the early lead and had the field stacked up behind him through a :27.2 opening quarter. He relinquished the top spot in the backstretch, but worked out a pocket trip through panels of :57 and 1:25.2 before popping out of the pocket in the lane and drawing off to win in 1:52.4.
“He had a great trip tonight, but last year he beat Well Said in the Metro prep,” said owner/driver Mario Baillargeon. “We liked him last year, but he wasn’t staked to anything. We only raced him six times, and this year he came back good.
“Two weeks ago in The Diplomat he came first up and only got beat two and a half lengths,” he added. “I thought he raced well, but we gave him a week off and Ben [trainer Wallace] made some changes. He changed his bridle and let his hopples out a hole or two. He had a good trip tonight and it’s a good prep for the races that are to come. He’ll probably get a three-year-old pace on Saturday, then he goes to the Burlington and the North America Cup if he’s good enough.”
Baillargeon also commented on how he’s feeling since returning from the serious leg injury he suffered in a nasty spill at Woodbine Racetrack earlier this year.
“I feel pretty good, still a little sore,” said Baillargeon. “The doctor gave me the OK on Friday morning, and I was told for a couple of weeks to drive four of five instead of nine or ten.”
To view Monday’s results, click here.