Two-year-old pacing colts and geldings sparred in a rich set of OSS Gold Series divisions Tuesday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, and favourites went down to defeat in each of those $105,000 affairs.
Nocturnal Bluechip, who was sent off at 5-2, steamrolled over seven foes to win the first division in a career-best clocking of 1:51. Paul MacDonell had his charge parked and pressing for the lead at the quarter pole in :27, but he was plugged in the pocket spot behind Cruise Patrol at the mid-way point in :55.1. Cruise Patrol zipped by the three-quarter marker in 1:23.1, but Nocturnal Bluechip angled out of the garden spot at the head of the lane and roared away from his foes thanks to a :27.2 closing quarter. Arsenic rallied for the runner-up award, while Stonebridge Beach came on to finish third.
Mark Steacy trains the son of Bettors Delight-Mcarts N Crafts for Landmark 8 Racing Stable, NLG Racing Stable and Jane Phair. The colt improved his record to 2-2-0 from five starts while his bankroll soared to $93,601 with the win.
Nvestment Bluechip played giant killer in the second division thanks to his upset score over the 1-5 favourite, Betting Line. Jody Jamieson hustled Nvestment Bluechip to the early lead and they had the field chasing them to the quarter pole in :27. Betting Line was parked and pressing Nvestment Bluechip in the backstretch, and he cleared to the lead right at the mid-way point in :54.4. Betting Line got in a breather around the final turn as he led the group to the three-quarter post in 1:24.1, but he was out-sprinted to the wire by Nvestment Bluechip. The winner marched home in :26.3 to win by half a length over Betting Line, with third prize going to Voracity.
Sent off at 7-2, Nvestment Bluechip improved this year’s record to 4-0-1 from eight tries for trainer Dave Menary. The son of Shadow Play-Hazes Zure Bet is owned by Menary Racing Inc, Michael Guerriero, Denis Breton and Tom Kyron. The $52,500 payday bumped his cash stash to $219,283.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.