Favorites sweep Wilson, Sweetheart finals

August 23, 2009

Windfall Blue Chip got up in the final strides to win the $455,400 Woodrow Wilson Final for two-year-old pacing colts Saturday night at the Meadowlands.

Driver Brian Sears and Windfall Blue Chip [$3.40, $2.60, $2.20] popped the pocket half way down the stretch and flew past the very game Payne�s Landing [19.40, $8.20] to a 3-4-length victory in 1:51.4. It was a tight photo for show, with Lord Terror [$4.40] overcoming Fashion Heart. This is Sears� second Woodrow Wilson in a row; he won last year with Major In Art in 1:50.4.

�I was going to come first over if I had to, but I was real impressed by the way John [Campbell]�s colt [Payne�s Landing] raced last week and I thought he had to give him a shot,� Sears said after the race. �He did and he ended up second, so it all worked out. When I tipped off John�s back we were both pacing hard, but my horse is really full of himself and went right to the wire.�

The son of Art Major-Beach Dancer was a $22,000 yearling purchase by George Teague Jr. Inc, Kovach Stables LLC, and Ted Gewertz. Windfall Blue Chip is perfect in 4 lifetime starts.

Western Moonlight made a brush up the backstretch to the lead and held off all other competitors to take the $440,300 Sweetheart Final for two-year-old pacing fillies.

With David Miller in tow, Western Moonlight [$3.60, $2.40, $2.10] moved to the front right before the half and parked the stalking BJ�s Canouan. The two began a duel with Western Moonlight prevailing around the far turn and holding off the late rallies of Camsamericangirl [$36.00, $11.60] and Lover of Art [$3.80]. Camsamericangirl finished one length behind in second, while Lover of Art was third.

�At that point [not letting BJ�s Canouan and Brian Sears pass], I knew when I was going back, he was following me,� Miller said of the trip. �I didn�t know what to expect. I was going as slow as I could and he went three wide. I just didn�t want to get locked in behind him. I had trouble with him in the past about that. So I just elected to leave him out.�

Western Moonlight has now won 4 of 6 lifetime starts for trainer Jim Campbell. The daughter of Western Hanover-Light Up was a $75,000 yearling purchase by Fashion Farms LLC.

�She worked a little harder tonight [than last week],� Campbell said. �Last week when she got to the front she really wasn�t pressured a whole lot and she made it look easy. Tonight, Dave [Miller] had to work a little bit more which you would expect that going for over $400,000. There are good fillies in there and she fought them off and dug in right down to the wire. I am very proud of her tonight.� (Meadowlands)

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