Splash Blue Chip won for the third straight time in New York Sire Stakes competition by capturing Monday night's lone $153,900 division for three-year-old trotting fillies at Yonkers Raceway in 1:56.
With Hambletonian-winning trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt in the bike, Splash Blue Chip quickly made her way to the lead from post three, but Moni For Lindy (Yannick Gingras), who floated away from post four, pressed on two-wide and took command passing the 28.2 opening quarter.
After landing on the point, Moni For Lindy backed down the pace to get to the half-mile marker to just :58.1, but business picked up coming off the third turn as Svanstedt vacated the cones with Splash Blue Chip to go after the tempo-setter. Splash Blue Chip moved on to level terms with Moni For Lindy at the 1:27 three-quarters, and their duel continued around the last turn and into the lane.
In mid-stretch Splash Blue Chip finally forged her way to an advantage over Moni For Lindy, and Splash Blue Chip would go on to get the victory by a length. Moni For Lindy held second over Titans Hope (Jason Bartlett), with Soukup Blue Chip (Scott Zeron), Tranquility K (Todd McCarthy), Illuminata (Mark MacDonald), and Aela Jamieson (Andy Miller) rounding out the order.
Svanstedt also co-owns Splash Blue Chip, a half-sister to his former New York Sire Stakes champion and world record holder Plunge Blue Chip, with partner Mellby Gard Inc. Splash Blue Chip, a daughter of E L Titan-Dunk The Donato bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc, has a record of 4-5-3 from 17 career starts, has earned $354,018, and paid $4.20 to win as the even-money second choice.
Daughters of E L Titan also swept the two $15,000 New York Excelsior "A" Series flights for sophomore trotting fillies. Cindy Michelle won the quicker of the pair, stopping the timer in 1:58.1 for trainer/driver John Stark, Jr. and owners Peter Barbato and Sam Bova Racing LLC, while Izzy Demsky converted a pocket trip into a 1:58.3 victory for driver Mattias Melander, trainer Marcus Melander and owner Courant Inc.
One New York Excelsior "B" Series race, worth $6,300, saw Summer Storm (Jordan Stratton), by Prayer I Am, prevail from the two-hole in 2:02.3 for trainer Kimberly Gilman-Daios and owners Winners Circle Racing 2 LLC, Nena Winand, Joseph Dougherty and Gilman Stable-Ny LLC.
There is more New York Sire Stakes action later this week at Yonkers Raceway, as three-year-old pacing colts and geldings invade for a pair of $75,900 contests (races two and three) on Friday (August 13)'s 12-race program. First race post is 7:15 p.m.
(Yonkers)