After rating comfortable front fractions, Francis Azur's Blueridge Western held off a late charge from Next Adventure to take the $30,000 Albatross for four- and five-year-old open pacers on Friday, June 19 at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack
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The four-year-old Allamerican Ingot gelding found the front easily, setting early fractions of :28.4 and :57.1. No challengers would come until the midpoint of the backstretch, when McCedes attempted a first-over bid, but stalled at mid-field with just over five-sixteenths to go. Blueridge Western continued under no pressure past three-quarters in 1:25 before being engaged by the pocket-sitting Next Adventure (Eric Goodell) on the far turn and through the stretch. Despite steady pressure in the final strides and a late charge from Its That Time (George Napolitano, Jr.), Blueridge Western held in under minimal urging from driver Tony Morgan, winning by a neck in 1:52.1.
Kevin McDermott trains Blueridge Western, who scored his eighteenth career victory.
(Harrah's Chester)