BY
FRANK DRUCKER, Publicity Director, Empire City @ Yonkers Raceway
YONKERS, NY, Monday, September 11,
2017—Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt, $2.30) returned to town Monday night
(Sept. 11th), having missed 29 days with a scratch-sick in between.
She was quite healthy, which in turn made
her rivals very ill.
Perfect ‘Plunge’ expunged Barn Bella from
Yonkers Raceway’s track records, highlighting the $157,000 New York Sire Stakes
Pat Quaglietta Trot for 2-year-old fillies.
Three divisions—at $52,000, $52,000 and
$53,00, respectively—comprised the event, with the starlet also serving as the
opening act.
Away third from
post position No. 2, Plunge Blue Chip watched as Perfect Summer K (Brian
Sears) gave her backers an early (:29,
:59) thrill. Moving toward the 1:28.1 three-quarters, ‘Plunge’ engaged the
leader, who offered no resistance.
Plunge Blue
Chip slapped a six-pack of lengths entering the lane, gearing down to win by 9¾
lengths in that new Westchester standard. A Thing Goin’ On (Brett Miller) was
second, with Sevenbuyeleven (Jordan Stratton) third.
For Plunge Blue Chip, a Muscle Mass miss
co-owned by her driver/trainer and (breeder) Blue Chip Bloodstock, she’s now
5-for-5 to begin her career. The exacta paid $4.70, with the triple (three
wagering favorites in order) returning $25.80.
“She had a cough (reason for Monticello
NYSS scratch) and the time off before this race helped her,” Svanstedt said.
.
Driver/trainer doubled-up in the second
statebred soiree, but at least this was a fair fight.
Lucky Ava, from post No. 5, went the
distance (:30.1, 1:00.3, 1:29.4,
life-best 1:59.2) She held off pocket-sitting Setntheworldonfire (Andy
McCarthy) by three-quarters of a length. White Cheetah (Mark MacDonald) was a
first-up third.
For ‘Ava,’ a Lucky Chucky lass co-owned by
Svanstedt, Little E LLC and Van Camp Trotting, it was her fourth win in seven
seasonal starts. The exacta paid $12.80, with the triple returning $32 (the six
starters finished in ascending wagering order).
The final Quaglietta contest saw odds-on
Supergirl Riley (Marcus Miller, $3.90) dispose of her six inside foes in a
down-the-road (:28, :58.1, 1:28.4, 1:58), win-by-2¾-lengths efforts
Fury Road (McCarthy) chased the winner
around the oval, with Lucky Rainbow (Brian Sears) third.
For ‘Riley,’ a daughter of Muscle
Mass trained by Erv Miller for co-owners Paymaq Racing, Harvey Eisman and
George Golemes, it was her fourth win in seven ’17 tries. The exacta paid
$17.60, with the triple returning $59.50.
This race completed a very popular
all-odds-on Pick 5, which returned a season-low $22.12 for every correct 50-cent
wager.
