Millionaire pacer Heston Blue Chip summoned up all of his back class to prevail in the $30,000 Winner's Over $25,000 Lifetime Pace featured event on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Harrah's Philadelphia.
The betting public slightly favoured the Ron Burke entrant Ultimate Beachboy (7-5), who started from post three. At the start, it was co-second favourites Word Power and Heston Blue Chip firing out for the lead, while the race favourite took back to settle in fifth. Heston Blue Chip finally cleared the lead from post eight, but only after a taxing :25.4 opening quarter. The pace slowed, with a :29 second quarter, only to pick up again when Ultimate Beachboy emerged on the scene first over. Heston Blue Chip maintained the lead, however, and turned into the stretch one length clear. Pocket-sitter Word Power and long shot Rock On Moe made advances up the inside, but it was Heston Blue Chip holding on by a nose, stopping the clock in 1:50.3. Rock On Moe settled for second while Word Power finished a neck back in third.
Heston Blue Chip is owned by Ken Jacobs and trained by Linda Toscano.
The feature win was one of five on the day for driver Tim Tetrick.
(With files from Harrah's Philadelphia)