Quincy Blue Chip is a rare type to find for sale. Blue Chip Farms bred the Chapter Seven daughter out of the Cantab Hall mare Sirenuse, and the filly accomplished big things for her breeder and owner.
At two, Quincy Blue Chip won four legs of the New York Sire Stakes for trotting fillies and placed in another three before finishing second to Winndevie in the $225,000 final at Yonkers last September.
At three, Quincy Blue Chip returned to sweep the elimination and $209,500 final of the Empire Breeders’ Classic for sophomore trotting fillies at Vernon Downs on May 17 and 27, respectively. She then rattled off another two wins and two second-place finishes in New York-bred stakes in the barn of Gareth Dowse, including a 1:53.2 lifetime best score at Tioga July 14. One day later, Quincy Blue Chip sold to Rich Banca in an online auction for $335,000.
“She’s a good horse. You don’t see horses like her where you’re able to buy them very often, if ever,” Banca said. “I bought her on onGait. I saw her race, but I didn’t see her in person before. It’s very hard to find good horses and she’s a good horse. She came up for sale and I bought her.”
When Quincy Blue Chip arrived at Banca’s stable and the trainer finally laid eyes on her, he was impressed.
“I loved her. She’s beautiful. She’s just a perfectly built horse,” Banca said. “She’s really good-looking. She looked really healthy; she was well taken care of. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Quincy Blue Chip debuted for Banca and co-owners Barbara and Jim Boese in a $118,800 New York Sire Stakes leg at Monticello July 29. Starting from post two, the filly led at every call and posted a 1-3/4 length victory in 1:56.2.
Quincy Blue Chip then returned to Vernon Downs Aug. 8 for another NYSS leg. Starting from post seven, driver Jim Morrill Jr. had the whip on the filly’s tail leaving the gate in a bid to secure the early lead. However, Sweet Chapter and Sensibility left to Quincy Blue Chip’s inside and Woodside Charm blasted to her outside. Barreling three-wide into the first turn, Quincy Blue Chip made a rare break in stride before a :26.2 opening quarter.
Despite the miscue, which left her eighth and 9-1/4 lengths behind, Quincy Blue Chip recovered to finish fourth.
“Jimmy said they were just flying into that turn, and it’s just something that happened. I don’t think there was any real reason for it; they were just going that fast. It just happened; she made a mistake,” Banca said.
“I don’t think that was her fault. I just think she got pushed a little hard into the turn,” Banca continued. “I think she was really good even after she made a break. She came back to finish fourth. If that didn’t happen, I don’t think they could have beat her.”
Quincy Blue Chip’s next effort gives credence to Banca’s high opinion of the filly. She went to Batavia Aug. 23 and streaked to a two-length win over Winndevie in a track record 1:55.4 mile. Quincy Blue Chip’s 11th win in 20 starts boosted her earnings to $525,387.
“She was super. Jimmy said she was just unbelievable. She was great,” Banca said.
Off her latest win, Banca feels Quincy Blue Chip has earned a chance to compete in open company. She will do so for the first time at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday night (Aug. 31), when she starts in the $124,334 Hudson Trot. Quincy Blue Chip drew post five in the first of four stakes on the card and will again have Morrill in the sulky.
“I just think she’s good enough. I think she’s good enough for it. It’s close to home and I wouldn’t miss it,” Banca said. “There’s good horses in there. It’s not going to be easy, but I think if she gets a good trip and nothing unfortunate happens, I think she’ll be fine.”
Quincy Blue Chip is the 3-2 morning line favourite, but will have six challengers. Joe Holloway’s Starita will make her first start on a half-mile track. She won in the Reynolds at The Meadowlands July 6 and enters off a third in the $135,000 Zweig Memorial at Vernon Aug. 17. Jezzys Legacy posted a four-length win in the Stallion Series at the Meadows Aug. 19 and drew the inside post in the Hudson Trot.
Magical Beliefs won in the Arden Downs Stakes at the Meadows July 27 and enters the Hudson Trot off a third-place finish in a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event on Aug. 19. Sexy Wow, Golden Tricks and Personal Paradise complete the lineup.
For Banca, a win with Quincy Blue Chip on the Grand Circuit at Yonkers would be especially meaningful. The leading trainer at Yonkers in 2017 and third in the current standings with 80 wins in 544 starts, the Hilltop is Banca’s home track. Banca was also introduced to the Boeses through a Standardbred Owners Association of New York program.
“It would be unbelievable for me, especially since it’s at Yonkers where I race. The owners are great people and I would love to win the race for them,” Banca said. “The first horse I got for them was one of those French trotters (Adagio De La Tour). They called me up about getting one of those and it’s really just worked out. They own Weslynn Dancer and a lot of nice horses. They’re great owners and friends and it’s worked out great for us.”
Saturday night’s card also features the $500,000 Messenger Stakes Final, the $500,000 Yonkers Trot, and the $122,224 Lady Maud. The $46,000 Open Handicap Pace supports the stakes-laden 12-race card. Post time is 6:50 p.m.
(SOA of New York)