Chips And Wings, whose recent pocket trips resulted in minor awards only, took matters into his own hands in Tuesday’s $22,500 Preferred Handicap Trot
. He front-stepped to a 1:53.2 track record performance at The Meadows for four-year-old stallions.
In four consecutive races in June, Chips And Wings sat second at the half but came away with two place finishes and a pair of fourths. On Tuesday, Tony Hall sent him right to the front, where he blazed through fractions of :27.3, 56.2 and 1:24.2 en route to the 1:53.2 triumph. The son of Chip Chip Hooray-Silent Wings held on to win by a half-of-a-length over the 2-5 favourite, Caviar Crown. Winning Mister finished third.
The time erased the old mark of 1:54.1, which Chips And Wings held jointly with Yankee Douglas, Hopes Victory and Triumphant Caviar. Bethie Murdock trains and owns Chips And Wings.
Dave Palone, who Monday moved into second place on harness racing’s all-time victory list, continued to wield a hot hand, driving six winners on the 13-race card while Greg Grismore enjoyed a triple.
(The Meadows)