Trainer Blair Burgess’ prized pupil, Blue Porsche, finished his rookie campaign with an eye-catching score in the $539,000 Valley Victory Final at Woodbine Racetrack, and on Tuesday evening the colt was a hard-closing winner in his 2011 debut at Mohawk Racetrack
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Trevor Ritchie was reunited with Blue Porsche, who was a 1:56.1 winner in a qualifier at Mohawk on May 19, but he stepped up his speed under the lights in Tuesday evening’s $24,000 conditioned assignment.
The son of Glidemaster-Machita landed sixth on the rail in the early stages of the mile, and held that position through fractions of :27.2, :57.1 and 1:26.1 before Ritchie asked him to burn rubber. And burn rubber, he did.
Blue Porsche used a :27-second closing quarter to get up in the late stages of the mile - with the plugs still in – en route to the 1-1/4 lengths score over OSS graduate Watkins in 1:54. Third prize went to Classic Alana, who set all the pace in the seven-horse affair.
Blue Porsche, who is owned by Robert Burgess, Karin Olsson Burgess and the Blue Porsche Stable, finished his freshman season with a 5-1-0 record from nine starts in addition to a bankroll of $405,661. He set a Canadian record of 1:54.1 with his win in last year’s Valley Victory Final at Woodbine, and that accomplishment helped him haul home the Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year award at the 2010 O’Brien Awards.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.