Credit Winner Trot champion Hot Shot Blue Chip held off the late-closing Opening Night in the $205,500 Pride In Progress on Saturday night at Indiana Downs to earn back-to-back stakes victories.
Driver Corey Callahan worked out the winning first over trip behind the six-year-old trotter for trainer Jonas Czernyson and owner Thomas Dillon of Anson, Maine.
Haulin Laser (Brandon Bates) established the lead off the gate with Tamla Celeber S (Dave Palone) applying early pressure on the outside and Hot Shot Blue Chip getting away third at the rail. Tamla Celeber S edged out in front past the :28-second opening quarter mark and cleared to command.
As the field hit the next marker in :56.4, Callahan sent Hot Shot Blue Chip first over and the top two took off from the rest of the field as they battled past the 1:25.2 three-quarters mark.
Hot Shot Blue Chip eventually wore down the leader into the stretch, but Opening Night (Peter Wrenn) made it a thrilling race until the finish as he rallied late into the win photo. However, Hot Shot Blue Chip managed to hang on by a nose for the 1:54.4 triumph. Mr Web Page (Dan Shelter) came on for third.
The victory marked the 20th time the millionaire son of Revenue S has visited the winner's circle. It was his fourth win in 15 seasonal starts and lifted his 2012 bankroll to $386,250.