Hayworth Blue Chip and Jim Meittinis came into Friday night’s $16,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace with two straight second-place finishes at Tioga Downs and a third at Saratoga. She left on Friday night with her fifth victory of the 2013 racing season and shaved two seconds off of her lifetime mark with a 1:51.4 score.
The duo got away fifth from post position number five through fractions of :27 and :55.3, put up by Billmar Scooter (Mike Simons). Down the backside, James Kennedy pulled Haggin Oaks first up battling through three-quarters in 1:23.2 with last week’s winner, Little Santamonica (Aaron Byron), following her cover. Around the final turn, Meittinis sent Hayworth Blue Chip three-wide to swoop the field with a final panel clocked in :27.4 and win by a length in 1:51.4. Haggin Oaks put in a solid effort to finish second while Little Santamonica rounded out the trifecta.
Hayworth Blue Chip, a four-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight and Musical Tone, returned $27.80 for a $2 win payoff.
She is trained by Rob Harmon for Karma Racing Inc. of Florida.
(With files from Tioga Downs)