YONKERS, NY, Saturday, December 1, 2012--Hypnotic Blue Chip (Brian Sears), he of the $1.7 million career bankroll, rolled from second-over Saturday night, winning Yonkers Raceway's $35,000 Open Pace.
Leaving from post position No. 5--in his first local appearance since a leg of
the 2010 George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series--Hypnotic Blue Chip
was content to spectate early. There was a lot to look at, as 3-5 favorite
Great Vintage (George Brennan) had to work to get around pole-sitting Woodstock
Hanover (Eric Goodell) after a :26.3 opening quarter-mile.
From there, Eighteen (Mark MacDonald) had designs on the lead, briefly taking
over before Great Vintage reclaimed. After a :55.3 intermission, 39-1 rank
outsider Bettor Design (Brent Holland) took a shot, with Hypnotic Blue Chip
stalking that one,
Great Vintage disposed of the longshot after a 1:23.4 three-quarters and had a
length-and-a-half lead into the lane. Unfortunately for chalk players
across the fruited plains, he soon dropped anchor. Hypnotic Blue Chip rolled
wide and rolled past, winning by a half-length un 1:52.2. A third-over Casimir
Jitterbug (Jason Bartlett) rallied into second, with Annieswesterncard (Yannick
Gingras), last early, closing for third.
Woodstock Hanover and Eighteen grabbed the remainder, while Great Vintage
backpedaled to the back, finishing last among the
octet.
For Hypnotic Blue Chip, a 6-year-old statebred son of Art Major owned by Fran
Azur and trained by Kevin McDermott, he returned $8.40 (second choice) for his
seventh win in 22 seasonal starts. The exacta paid $112.50, with the triple
returning $724.
Owner Azur and trainer McDermott also saw Noble Falcon (Jordan Stratton,
$12.20) become harness racing's newest millionaire ($1,011,251) with a 1:52.4
win in the $28,000, eighth-race pace. The 8-year-old Nobleland Sam gelding hit
seven figures the old-fashioned way, making his 229th career
start.
Saturday's total handle for the dozen-race dossier was a robust $1,075,326.
The Raceway continues its normal five-night-per-week live schedule, with first
post every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7:10 PM. Evening
simulcasting accompanies all live programs, with afternoon simulcasting
available around the NYRA schedule.
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