Quincy Blue Chip with driver Jim Morrill Jr.
By Tim Bojarski, for Batavia Downs
Quincy Blue Chip (Chapter Seven-Sirenuse) had a big night at Batavia Downs on Friday night (Aug. 23). She won the $118,800 New York Sire Stake (NYSS) sophomore filly trot, moved into the points and money earnings lead for her age and gender bracket and broke the standing track record for second year distaff trotters.
Driver Jim Morrill Jr. left the gate easily with Quincy Blue Chip and took almost all of the :28.1 first quarter to make the front. But once they got the lead, the rest was history. With an open two-length lead, Quincy Blue Chip tripped the next two timers in :58.1 and 1:27.2, the last with With Out A Doubt (Marcus Miller) and Sensibility (Scott Zeron) directly at her flank pushing the issue. But Morrill let Quincy Blue Chip have her head and she trotted stronger as they headed into the stretch. Down the lane she was on cruise and crossed the line wrapped-up in 1:55.4.
“I got her off the gate and eased her to the front. Once she got there she was very strong,” said her driver Morrill. “I popped the plugs at the three-quarters and she was gone. She trotted down the stretch a thousand; as fast as any 3-year-old filly I ever sat behind.”
The winning time of 1:55.4 was a new track record for 3-year-old trotting fillies, breaking the old mark of 1:56.4 set by Celebrity Ruth in 2017 and tied by Seventh Heaven that same year.
It was the seventh win of the year for Quincy Blue Chip ($3.10) and it pushed her 2019 earnings to $343,425. She has now surpassed the half-million dollar mark lifetime with with $525,387 in the bank.
Quincy Blue Chip is owned by Barbara and James Boese and Richard Banca, who also does the training.
Before starting in the $225,000 NYSS final on the Night of Champions at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Sept. 14), Quincy Blue Chip will compete in the Hudson Filly Trot at Yonkers Raceway on Saturday (Aug. 31).
Morrill had a big night in the bike besides this win as he ended up with a hat trick on the card to lead all drivers on Friday.
Two divisions of the $15,000 Excel “A” series were also contested on Friday, producing the following results.
Qiss Me Blue Chip (Chapter Seven-Make It Blue Chip)
Driver -- Billy Davis Jr.
Owner -- Rick Zeron Stable, James Walker, Noblock Racing Stable and Blue Chip Bloodstock
Trainer -- Rick Zeron
Breeder -- Ray Schnittker, Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and Blue Chip Bloodstock
Time -- 1:58.2
Mutuel -- $9.70
Amal Hall (Credit Winner-Arabella Hall)
Driver -- Jason Bartlett
Owner -- Andy Miller Stable and DumaineHaven
Trainer -- Julie Miller
Breeder -- Walnut Hall
Time -- 1:57.3
Mutuel -- $2.40
Live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday (Aug. 24). Post time for the first race is 6 p.m.
