As eliminations for the Fan Hanover Stakes approach this weekend and with Ontario Sires Stakes and SBOA Stakes divisions previously contested, one three-year-old pacing filly conspicuous by her absence in these events is 2014 O’Brien Award finalist Sports Chic.
The OSS standout at two has been missing from the racing radar in 2015 after an impressive rookie season. Vet scratched from her last scheduled start of 2014 in the Breeders Crown eliminations at the Meadowlands, Sports Chic was ultimately sidelined with injury.
“She hairlined a coffin bone,” trainer Blake MacIntosh told Trot Insider. “She’s starting late because of the extra time needed to heal.”
Training down for her sophomore campaign, the pacing filly has shown promise as she eases back into the racing routine.
“Sports Chic is very good so far. She’s a little bit more powerful, a little bigger, I’m really happy with her,” continued MacIntosh. “She trained in 2:12 [Wednesday] morning and we’ll put her in to qualify at Mohawk in two to three weeks.”
The Sportswriter filly isn’t the only impressive daughter of Vesta Blue Chip with half-sister Rainbow Blue a name known by all racing fans. Rainbow Blue went on to collect $1.6 million in her career, winning 30 of 32 starts and posting a record of 1:49.2 as a three-year-old. Interestingly, both Rainbow Blue and Sports Chic concluded their two-year-old seasons with marks of 1:54.2 –- Rainbow Blue on a mile track, Sports Chic on a five-eighths.
On record as calling Sports Chic the best horse he’s ever had, MacIntosh hopes the high praise will translate into a successful three-year-old season.
“She’s paid up to most of the stakes, we’re hoping to have her back in time for the OSS Gold on July 2 and then from there we’ll play it by ear.”
Her stakes schedule features OSS races as well as Grand Circuit events like the Simcoe, the Courageous Lady, and the coveted Breeders Crown at Woodbine Racetrack.
A $35,000 bargain at the Lexington Select Yearling Sale, Sports Chic has gone on to collect $241,389. from 10 starts. Her sire Sportswriter experienced a banner year in 2014, with Sports Chic leading the pack for fillies and eventually acknowledged as an O’Brien Award finalist. She just happened to be in the same crop as the unbeaten JK Shesalady, who won Horse of the Year honours in both Canada and the U.S.
Bred by Winbak Farms and owned by both MacIntosh and Hutt Racing Stable, Sports Chic was integral in making 2014 a year to remember for the Cambridge, Ont. resident. He reached a new career high for seasonal earnings, coming in just shy of $900,000 in 360 starts.
With the bulk of the stakes season still ahead, MacIntosh is hopeful that Sports Chic will be part of another banner year for his stable in 2015.
“I just hope she comes back good and we can make some money with her. We won’t know until we qualify but I’m happy with her so far.”