Osprey Blue Chip is in the midst of her best stretch since coming to Saratoga Casino Hotel a couple of seasons ago.
A winner of four of her last seven starts leading up to Thursday afternoon’s feature at the ‘Spa,’ Osprey Blue Chip started from the rail for her second try in the local Open for fillies and mares.
Brett Crawford picked up the catch-drive for trainer Lisa Zabielski in the race, which saw Osprey Blue Chip dismissed at odds of 21-1.
After having gotten away third, Osprey Blue Chip stuck to the pylon path and as the two-hole-sitting Sandy Sue popped the pocket around the final turn, the longshot gobbled up ground on the inside turning for home.
Osprey Blue Chip, pictured victorious on June 13, 2019.
Sandy Sue (Billy Dobson) – a winner of two consecutive Opens for distaffers heading into Thursday’s try in the $15,000 feature – came up second-best, as Osprey Blue Chip surged up the passing lane before stopping the timer in 1:54.4. The favoured Made Of Jewels As (who was driven by Jay Randall) had to settle for third.
Osprey Blue Chip’s win price of $45.80 is the largest for an Open winner at Saratoga since back in February when Aberforth pulled off a shocker in the Open Trot and returned $79.00 to win. The exacta paid $227 while the triple returned $1,033 in the six-horse feature for the ladies on Thursday afternoon.
Live racing will resume on Saturday evening. First post has been set for 6:45 p.m.
(Saratoga Casino Hotel)