Francis Azur’s Hypnotic Blue Chip captured Saturday’s $100,000 Battle of Lake Erie at Northfield Park, and in doing so he matched the overall track record of 1:49.4
.
With Jody Jamieson at the lines, the four-year-old son of Art Major-A Traceofmagic overcame a first-over journey en route to posting the mini upset for trainer Kevin McDermott.
Jamieson tucked Hypnotic Blue Chip into the four-hole when the starting gate sped away, while the 1-2 favourite, Foiled Again (Dave Palone), was sent to the engine in a :26-second clip. He was pressed to that first stanza by the parked out Pilgrims Toner (Tony Hall). Foiled Again was still in charge of the tempo at the mid-way point, and his :54-second clocking with a lap to go proved to be very demanding.
The lead changed hand at the three-quarter when Hypnotic Blue Chip sprinted to a narrow lead by that marker in 1:22. A :27.4 final frame was morning than enough to propel the classy campaigner to a five-length triumph in 1:49.4. Won The West (Matt Kakaley), who was last at the mid-way point, closed willingly to grab the runner-up spot, while Foiled Again tired late and had to settle for the show dough.
The clocking matched the track standard set by the ill-fated Maltese Artist on April, 21, 2007. the 1:49.4 tally makes Hypnotic Blue Chip just one of eight pacers to ever crack the 1:50 barrier on a half-mile track.
It was the fourth win of the 2010 campaign for Hypnotic Blue Chip, who has won 16 of his 50 lifetime starts while banking more than $765,658 in the process.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.