Windfall Blue Chip got up in the final strides to win the $455,400 Woodrow Wilson for two-year-old pacing colts Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack
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Driver Brian Sears and Windfall Blue Chip [$3.40, $2.60, $2.20] popped the pocket half way down the stretch and flew past the very game Paynes Landing [19.40, $8.20] to a 3/4-length victory in 1:51.4. It was a tight photo for show, with Lord Terror [$4.40] overcoming Fashion Heart. This is Sears’ second Woodrow Wilson in a row; he won last year with Major In Art in 1:50.4.
“I was going to come first-over if I had to, but I was real impressed by the way John [Campbell]’s colt [Paynes Landing] raced last week and I thought he had to give him a shot,” Sears said after the race. “He did and he ended up second, so it all worked out. When I tipped off John’s back we were both pacing hard, but my horse is really full of himself and went right to the wire.”
The son of Art Major-Beach Dancer was a $22,000 yearling purchase by George Teague Jr. Inc, Kovach Stables LLC, and Ted Gewertz. Windfall Blue Chip is perfect in four lifetime starts.
Western Moonlight made a brush up the backstretch to the lead and held off all other competitors to take the $440,300 Sweetheart Final for two-year-old pacing fillies.
With David Miller in tow, Western Moonlight [$3.60, $2.40, $2.10] moved to the front right before the half and parked the stalking BJs Canouan. The two began a duel with Western Moonlight prevailing around the far turn and holding off the late rallies of Camsamericangirl [$36.00, $11.60] and Lover of Art [$3.80]. Camsamericangirl finished one length behind in second, while Lover of Art was third.
“At that point [not letting BJs Canouan and Brian Sears pass], I knew when I was going back, he was following me,” Miller said of the trip. “I didn’t know what to expect. I was going as slow as I could and he went three-wide. I just didn’t want to get locked in behind him. I had trouble with him in the past about that. So I just elected to leave him out.”
Western Moonlight has now won four of six lifetime starts for trainer Jim Campbell. The daughter of Western Hanover-Light Up was a $75,000 yearling purchase by Fashion Farms LLC.
“She worked a little harder tonight [than last week],” Campbell said. “Last week when she got to the front she really wasn’t pressured a whole lot and she made it look easy. Tonight, Dave [Miller] had to work a little bit more which you would expect that going for over $400,000. There are good fillies in there and she fought them off and dug in right down to the wire. I am very proud of her tonight.”
For recaps of tonight's Breeders Crown finals, click here.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.
(With files from NJSEA)