HESTON BLUE CHIP IN A LAUGHER; UNION MAN HANOVER; CORAL SNAKE ALSO NYSS WINNERS

Wednesday, 06 June 2012 17:30

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MONTICELLO, NY - A stellar card of 15 races featuring three splits of the 160,000 NY Sire Stakes for 3 year old pacing colts and geldings and six divisions of the Excelsior Series, also for sophomore colt pacers, made for a successful afternoon of racing not only enjoyed by the race winners but also by the betting public, both on and off track.

As was expected, NYSS standout, Heston Blue Chip, with Tim Tetrick at the controls, cruised to an easy two length victory in a 1:52.4 clocking in their $53,271 five-horse division. Union Man Hanover won his $54,271 NYSS split in 1:52.3 for Jimmy Morrill, Jr. and Coral Snake and driver George Brennan toured the Mighty M oval in 1:53.2 taking home the lion’s share of the $53,271 NYSS purse offered.

But the day belonged to Kenny Jacobs Heston Blue Chip. With the short field Tetrick sent the colt to the front as the gate folded and cruised along unchallenged through first half fractions of :28.4 and :58.1. After the half Tetrick just lifted the lines and Heston Blue Chip paced away reaching the third stanza in1:26.1 and then poured on a :26.3 last quarter en route to an easy victory, the colt’s second in as many tries this year. Steelhead Hanover and driver Jimmy Morrill, Jr. finished second while Twin B Hollister and Montrell Teague took home the show dough.

Needless to say, Jacobs, who is always around when his stock performs, was smiling from ear to ear. Jacobs, who prides himself in picking out his own colts at the sales, was asked how much he paid for Heston Blue Chip. “I guess I got a real bargain when paid $30,000 for him as a yearling, “ he chuckled. I don’t want to jinx him but I believe he’s an even better horse than my namesake, Kenny J.”

Tetrick , who has always been the colt’s regular driver is also high on him. “He’s very good,” Tetrick said when asked about Heston Blue Chip as he was leaving the winners circle. “I’m glad I baby raced him”

With only win and place wagering allowed in the race Heston Blue Chip paid $2.20 and $2.10. But the mutuel payoffs couldn’t tell the whole story because over $143,000 was wagered on the winner to place, which is probably the biggest ‘bridge jump’ here in decades.

Tetrick also won another NYSS split when he guided Union Man Hanover to a 1:52.3 triumph. When the prohibitive favorite Breakin The Law got interfered with by a breaking horse on the first turn Gable Blue Chip and Mark MacDonald took the lead and cut all the fractions with Tetrick and Union Man Hanover on MacDonald’s helmet all the way. In mid-stretch Tetrick moved his colt out to challenge and they rallied to collar the leader for a neck victory. Lawgiver Hanover and Jimmy Morrill,Jr. finished third.

Union Man Hanover is owned by Stake Your Claim Stable, Bay’s Stable and DJ Baer. Both of the aforementioned NYSS winners are trained by Linda Toscano.

Because of the odds-favorite being of the board strange payoffs ensued in the six-horse race. The winner paid $18.20; $8.60 and $15.00 Gable Blue Chip paid $10.80 and $29.00 while Lawgiver Hanover’s show payoff was $12.80.

George Brennan came back to where his career began and made winning look easy when he stalked the leaders for the first three quarters and then hustled Coral Snake to a length triumph in 1:53.2 in the final $53,271 NYSS split. Larry Stalbaum and Art Of Temptation closed to be second while the early leader Racing Rocky faded and finished third in the five horse race.

Owned by the West Winds Stable and trained by Casie Coleman, Coral Snake paid $2.80 for win.

Also on the card were six $12,7000 divisions of the Excelsior Series, formerly the late closers. Jason Bartlett won three and Jimmy Morrill, won two. Bartlett connected with Art’s Delight (1:56) ; Bettor’s Arena (1:54.) and with Bettorific(1:55,2). Morrill’s wins came behind Ideal Griff (1:54.4) and Fireyoruguns (1:54.2).

In all $824,756 was wagered on the card.

FFI-contact: John Manzi

845-794-4100x455