Sand Violent Blu, last year’s Pennsylvania freshman champion plagued by physical problems throughout 2012, finally got a win at three Wednesday at The Meadows when she captured a division of a $90,800 Keystone Classic for trotting fillies. Miss Chip K raced gamely through the stretch to take the other division.
It was a year ago that Sand Violent Blu’s medical odyssey began when she struggled to win a Keystone Classic split as the heavy favourite. Trainer Tye Loy and owner Bill Sanders put the daughter of Tom Ridge-Sand Lavender-Blu through a series of veterinary examinations, but it wasn’t until this summer that the problem — a lung abscess — was discovered. Yet the treatment with antibiotics proved nearly as dangerous as the disease.
“When the abscess burst, she went down,” Loy said. “She really scared me. Then she lost her mind. She got absolutely wild, jumping up and down. I was having trouble just jogging her. She probably still isn’t 100 percent.”
Although Loy doesn’t train the filly during the week because of her condition, she was strong enough Wednesday to dominate her division at a juicy 11-1, scoring in 1:55.3 on a “good” surface in her ninth start of the year. The pocket-sitting Taylor Jean was second, three lengths back, with Blue Yonder third.
Loy said Sand Violent Blue will skip the Kentucky Filly Futurity because of its potential for two taxing heats but that the Matron and Breeders Crown remain possibilities.
Miss Chip K powered to the lead before the quarter for Mike Wilder and dug in to thwart the late challenge of Southwind Moni, defeating that rival by a nose in 1:56.3. Holier Than Thou earned show.
“The only thing that scared me was that speed wasn’t holding at all,” Wilder said. “I went ahead and took a shot anyway. I thought that would be one less time I would have to be out in any turns. I got to the half a little more than maybe I wanted to. That was a good filly at her head late, but she dug right in and fought her hard.”
Charlie Norris trains the daughter of Chip Chip Hooray-American Miss K for owner/breeder Bob Key.
Elsewhere on the card, Jans Luck, one of The Meadows’ top distaff pacers for a number of years, became a $1 million performer when she captured a conditioned pace in 1:52.2. Her lifetime numbers now include $1,002,209 in earnings and 47 wins in 146 starts — many of them against her archrival, Spring Break. Dave Palone piloted the daughter of Camluck-Jans Scooter for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC, JJK stables and M1 Stable.
In the $22,500 Filly & Mare Not Listed Preferred/Preferred Handicap Pace, Moonlite Delite brushed to the lead past the quarter and held off the late charge of NY Yankees to down her by a head in a career-best 1:51.3. Farouche Hanover completed the ticket. Ryan Angus conditions the six-year-old daughter of Western Hanover-Moonlit Bay for SP Stable.
Stake racing at The Meadows resumes Friday with a $105,000 Keystone Classic for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters. First post is 6:55 p.m.
(The Meadows)