With competing in the New York Sire Stakes, Empire Breeders Classic and having just won the Zweig consolation already this year, Ostrich Blue Chip came to Plainridge Park on Tuesday, August 29 with a solid resume. And her class showed, as she won the $12,000 conditioned trotting feature at 'The Ridge.'
Ostrich Blue Chip (Greg Merton) got away fourth as Shorething Fashion (Chris Long) took the lead. But as that one cleared the quarter in :28, Merton pulled Ostrich Blue Chip and went to the front and that would be the final lead change of the race.
Ostrich Blue Chip was motoring along comfortably up the backstretch when Back Stage (Ivan Davies) tried his luck and performed admirably for a while, trotting stride for stride with the favourite to the three-quarters in 1:27.1. But past that station, the curtain came down on Back Stage and Ostrich Blue Chip started trotting away from the field. With a sizable lead heading for home, Merton had her wrapped up early and she cruised to a one-length victory in 1:55.3.
It was the fourth win in six starts for Ostrich Blue Chip ($3.20) and also her third in a row. The 3-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven is owned by the Fred Monteleone Stable LLC and is trained by Frank Antonacci.
In the $10,000 co-featured condition trot, Tuff Lil Tune (Jim Hardy) tracked the heavy favourite Donomoni (Greg Merton) from third until the three-quarter pole when Hardy pulled the big trotter and drew even with the leader. From there the two trotted side-by-side down the lane before Tuff Lil Tune got the edge and won by a head in 1:56.3, which was a new lifetime mark.
It was the second win in three starts this year for Tuff Lil Tune ($23.20) and also his second win in a row. The four-year-old Muscle Mass gelding is owned by Tony Gruppo and Tim Bojarski and is trained by Scott Rollins.
Greg Merton had another Grand Slam at Plainridge on Tuesday winning with Muscana (1:56.2, $3.20), Fast N Victorious (1:54.1, $3.40), The Date Rocker (1:54.4, $3.80) and Ostrich Blue Chip (1:55.3, $3.20).
Jim Hardy also had a driving triple and trainer Scott Rollins sent two of his students to the winner’s enclosure for pictures.
Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)