by Brian J. Mazurek, for Buffalo Raceway
HAMBURG, N.Y. --- Protect Blue Chip went off as the heavy
favorite in Buffalo Raceway's featured $10,000 Filly and Mare Open Pace on
Wednesday night (Feb. 3) and despite some anxious moments with a photo finish,
she didn't disappoint in the end.
The 6-year-old Protect Blue Chip ($3.50) managed to keep a
nose in front of Who's Got The Move while Lady London was just a neck back in
an exciting blanket finish in 1:56.3 over the sloppy track.
The victory was just one of four on the evening for owners
Vogel & Wags Nags Stable, Team Rice Racing and Adelphia Bloodstock along
with trainer Maria Rice and driver Billy Davis Jr. They also enjoyed wins by
Little Joke ($3.40), Teardown This Wall ($4.60) and Keystone Apache ($2.90).
After managing to get the lead just before the opening
panel, Protect Blue Chip set the splits with fractions of :28.2, :59.4 and
1:27.3. Things got tight near the wire as Who's Got The Move (Kevin Cummings)
and Lady London (Ray Fisher Jr.) surrounded the front running Protect Blue Chip
but their combined efforts came up short in the photo.
It was the first win of the season for Protect Blue Chip
(American Ideal-Lucky Turn) and moved her seasonal earnings to $5,800 and
$135,165 lifetime.
Jim Morrill Jr. completed the evening with a driving
triple while Gerry Sarama had three training victories.
Racing will continue on Saturday evening with a 10-race
program scheduled with a post time set for 5 p.m.
