Tgdn5/8 - Bettor B Lucky, Heston Blue Chip Win EBC Finals

One was an upset winner and one had the race won when he entered. That’s the story for Bettor B Lucky who lived up to her name when she upset the heavily favored Takter entry of American Jewel and Romantic Moment to win the filly division of the Empire Breeders Classic. Heston Blue Chip, undefeated in NYSS action this year, continued his dominance while breaking his own track record to win the colt final.

Better B Lucky (3) winning the Empire Breeders Classic over Romantic Moment (1A) and American Jewel (1).

Bettor B Lucky, the 3 year old daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Hornby Lucky, left from post 2 with driver Jim Morrill, Jr. and secured the 3 hole behind the favored Takter entry of American Jewel and Romantic Moment. The race seemed to go American Jewel’s way while she cruised thru fractions of 26.2, 56, and 1:24.1. The first over challenger Handsoffmycookie never advanced past 4^th on the outside which allowed the front 3 to separate a little and battle it out late. Halfway around the last turn Romantic Moment tipped out from the 2 hole trip to challenge stable mate American Jewel while the Ron Burke trained 18-1 shot Bettor B Lucky tipped off that cover. American Jewel tired late and Romantic Moment and Bettor B Lucky dueled to the wire with Bettor B Lucky coming out on top in 1:50, a new lifetime mark.  Romantic Moment finished 2^nd while stable mate American Jewel ended up third. Bettor B Lucky raised her lifetime earnings to just over $300,000. A replay of the race can be viewed at the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hID7WM4KHW8&list=UU_zm7AZtzCioO1U5K0bDXZQ&index=1&feature=plcp.

Heston Blue Chip continued his supremacy of New York bred pacers with a dominating win. Sent forward from post position 2, driver Tim Tetrick moved the Linda Toscano trained 3 year old to the front in 26.4. After leading the field past the half in 55 Tetrick stepped on the gas and Heston Blue Chip responded with a 26.2 3^rd panel to trip the ¾ pole in 1:21.2. First over challenger Breakin The Law was able to get to the wheel of Tetrick at the ¾ pole but he would get no closer as Heston Blue Chip proceeded to open up on the field winning by a handy 3 ¼ lengths in a new 3 year old track record and lifetime mark of 1:48.4. Breakin The Law hung on for 2^nd while Bet On The Law finished 3^rd. After the race, Tetrick said, “He’s super to drive and has a ton of speed. He’s a tough horse and when you get him in gear he can go a long way.”

Heston Blue Chip winning the Empire Breeders Classic at Tioga Downs

The $30,000 American Ideal-Shot Togo Bluechip yearling has been a blessing for owner Ken Jacobs. “I bought this horse from Bluechip. I make a couple trips there a year to look over the yearlings and this was the one I picked out. I was glad to win this race. Jeff (Gural) has done so much for racing and Tioga is the marquee place for racing as far as I’m concerned,” said Ken Jacobs. The win was the 19^th in 22 career starts for Heston Blue Chip pushing him over three quarters of a million dollars for his life. A replay of Heston Blue Chip’s win can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3FZS0sGllI&list=PL8CFB6A991E8FFF2D&index=1&feature=plcp.

Also on Sunday’s card were 3 EBC undercard races. The 1^st of 2 colt divisions was won by Fireyourguns (Morrill) in a new lifetime mark of 1:51. The 2^nd division was won by Ideal Griff (Morrill) in 1:52.2. The filly final also had an upset winner with 31-1 Abrokenart Hanover (Morrill) taking it in 1:54.2.  

Jim Morrill, Jr., the king of the NYSS, won five races on the card including 4 of the 5 Empire Breeders Classic races.  

Tioga returns to action Monday night with a special 6pm post. Four divisions of NYSS 2 year old colt trotters take the stage as well as six divisions of the Excelsior series. For more information please visit our website at www.tiogadowns.com.