If not for an unsuccessful first attempt at motherhood, Cameron Chip’s second try at racing might never have happened
. A seven-year-old mare, Cameron Chip saw her initial racing career halted before it began because of an injury as a two-year-old. But since getting to the track in December of her three-year-old year, she has won 19 of 84 starts and $176,162 for owner-trainer John Calabrese.
On Friday night, she will go after the biggest prize of her career, the $82,000 purse in the Horse & Groom series final for older trotters at Meadowlands Racetrack. Cameron Chip, listed as the third choice in the morning line at 9-2, will start from Post 4 with driver Jim Meittinis. She finished second in both of her previous starts in the series.
“When I worked for Chuck Sylvester we had her and she was one of our better fillies,” Calabrese said. “After she got hurt, I bought her as a broodmare. I bred her and she never got in foal, so I threw the harness on her one day and she never missed a beat. It had been almost a year by the time I started back with her and I think all that time (off) was beneficial. We’ve gotten lucky. We count every race as a blessing.”
A daughter of Chip Chip Hooray--Ten Queens, Cameron Chip is a full sister to Heza Challenger, who was second in the Ohio Sire Stakes final and Galt Stakes as a three-year-old. He later enjoyed success in the preferred trots at the Meadows.
“I have to give Chuck and (driver) Jimmy Marshall III a lot of credit for helping me get her going,” Calabrese said. “Jimmy raced her a lot early on and was helpful getting her set up.”
Cameron Chip has won one of eight races this year and hit the board seven times while earning $31,380. She was second to Definitely Mamie, losing by a neck, in the first round of the Horse & Groom and was second to Marcus Bi in the next round.
“Last week, on the front, wasn’t really her style,” Calabrese said. “She’s more of just a stone-cold closer. I’m very happy with where we drew for the final. Hopefully, they go enough and it sets up for a closer. Hopefully, we’ll be coming on the end. She seems good and we’ll see if things work out and we get a trip.”
The 2-1 morning line favorite in the Horse & Groom is Fountainbleau Volo, who won his two previous races in the series. He will start from Post 2 for driver David Miller and trainer Jeff Dauplaise.
Fountainbleau Volo has won three of five starts this year and 10 of 22 in his career, good for $113,435. He is owned by Dauplaise and Mendy Taffel, who bought the gelding in December.
“He’s doing very well,” Dauplaise said. “We didn’t train him this week. He’s not a big horse but he’s in good shape. He’s just a good horse. We keep him turned out a lot; keep him fresh. It’s been working out for us.”
Dauplaise experimented with Fountainbleau Volo’s equipment before settling on a version of a Kant See Back bridle.
“It seems to help; he seems to have his mind on his business,” Dauplaise said. “He’d made a couple breaks and I told my partner not to worry about it until the (Horse & Groom) started. He’s been good ever since then.”
Dauplaise has been impressed enough to stake Fountainbleau Volo to the Maple Leaf Trot and Credit Winner. If all goes well, he might supplement the horse to the Breeders Crown.
“He’s got that type of speed,” Dauplaise said of Fountainbleau Volo’s ability to compete at the sport’s highest level. “I just don’t know if he has the class or the strength. I can’t race him tough all the time; I’m going to pick my spots. But he’s got extreme speed and so far he’s been in hand.”
Nik Drennan’s Here Comes Numbers is the 5-2 second choice in the Horse & Groom final. He will start from Post 3 with driver Brian Sears at the controls.
“I think the horse to beat is right outside me,” Dauplaise said. “But it’s anybody’s race; the trip is going to get it. I just hope he’s good Friday night and we get a little lucky.”
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.