Saranac Blue Chip will have a chance to finish a sweep of the MGM Rewards Gents Pacing Series after he won his third-straight $20,000 preliminary round event on Tuesday night (March 22) at Yonkers Raceway.
Driven by Jordan Stratton in the second of three divisions, Saranac Blue Chip went to the lead from post 3 and carved fractions of :27.3, :57.2, and 1:24.4. Makin Some Noise made some headway after going first-over out of third heading to three-quarters, but he stalled out approaching that marker, allowing Saranac Blue Chip to turn for home on a clear lead. He wouldn't relinquish it from there, hitting the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of pocket-sitter Barrywhite Hanover in a 1:53.2 mile. High Baller rallied from second-over to take third.
A four-year-old American Ideal gelding, Saranac Blue Chip is trained by Dan Morrissey for owner Leona Morrissey. This was his ninth win from 41 starts, and he has now earned $125,485. Sent at odds of 9-2, Saranac Blue Chip paid $11.00 to win and was atop a $264.50 exacta and a $685.00 trifecta.
Back in the opening flight, 25-1 shot Samson Blue Chip gunned to the point from the outside post 7 and chopped panels of :26.4, :56.3, and 1:24.2, but 1-5 favourite Perfectboy Hanover angled out of the pocket on the final bend, and his bid was followed by Bottle Rocket. In the stretch Perfectboy Hanover forged his way by Samson Blue Chip, but Bottle Rocket gained to Perfectboy Hanover's outside and got by him at the wire to tally by a nose in 1:53. Samson Blue Chip ended up third.
Walter Whelan trains and co-owns Bottle Rocket, a four-year-old son of Rock N Roll Heaven, with partner Christopher Nicol. Bottle Rocket has compiled a record of 2-6-7 from 25 trips behind the gate, and he pushed his bankroll to $97,818. A 7-2 offering, Bottle Rocket returned $9.70 to win and keyed a $13.00 exacta and a $94.50 trifecta. Mike Whelan drove the winner.
Bet On Blake backed up his win in last Tuesday's second leg with a 1:54.2 decision in the final section. Bet On Blake led his seven foes through stations of 29, 58.4, and 1:27, then sprinted a :27.2 last quarter to score by 2-3/4 lengths over pocket-sitter Bali Beach. Jet Ace collected third.
The victorious four-year-old gelded son of Betterthancheddar is trained by Dennis Laterza for owners Albert Sperling and Latz A Luck Stable. Bet On Blake is now a seven-time winner from 36 appearances, and he has pocketed $113,629. The 1-2 favourite, Bet On Blake paid $3.10 to win. The exacta was worth $7.80 and the trifecta kicked back $35.80. Jason Bartlett drove the winner.
The $50,000 championship of the MGM Rewards Gents Pacing Series will headline next Tuesday night's (March 29) card at Yonkers. There will also be a $30,000 consolation event.
Stakes action continues at Yonkers in the coming days, with the third leg of the MGM Rewards Ladies Pacing Series on Wednesday (March 23), the second round of the Blue Chip Matchmaker Series on Friday (March 25), and the second leg of the MGM Borgata Pacing Series on Monday (March 28).
Leg one winners Dragon Roll (post 1), Easy To Please (post 4), and Drama Act (post 6) face off in the second $40,000 Matchmaker tilt (Race 5), and Mystical Carrie, the remaining opening round winner, has post one in the last $40,000 division (Race 7).
All five opening round winners in the MGM Borgata Pacing Series will be back in action on Monday. Nandolo N (post 5) is in race two, Dragon Said (post five) will step on the track in race five, This Is The Plan (post 4) and Western Joe (post 7) face off in Race 7, and Leonidas A (post 7) competes in Race 8. There are five $50,000 splits in total.
Yonkers is currently racing on a Monday-Friday schedule, with post time each night at 6:55 p.m. (EDT).
(Yonkers Raceway)