Hot Shot Blue Chip wins Pride In Progress

Hot Shot Blue Chip put away Tamla Celeber S at the top of the lane and withstood a late charge by Opening Night to capture the $205,500 Pride In Progress for free-for-all trotters Saturday night, September 22 at Indiana Downs. Driven by Corey Callahan, the millionaire trotter stopped the timer in 1:54.4.

Drawing post five in the field of nine, Callahan and Hot Shot Blue Chip got away third as Haulin Laser and Brandon Bates led the field to the quarter in :28. The favorite sat patiently along the rail as Dave Palone moved Tamla Celeber S to the lead from second and reached the half in :56.4. Callahan and the favorite were out and moving just before the half to engage the leader and the two trotters gapped the field as they raced to three quarters in 1:25.2.

In the stretch, the Jonas Czernyson trainee took control and looked to have the race in hand. But Opening Night and Peter Wrenn shook loose in the stretch, trotting home in :28.3 to come within a neck of victory. Mr Web Page and trainer Dan Shetler were third.

Owned by Thomas Dillon, the six-year-old Revenue S gelding earned his fourth seasonal win. Bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock, the trotter has earned $385,255 this season and boasts $1,177,242 for his career.

In other action at Indiana Downs, the Shelbyville track hosted two divisions of Indiana Sires Stakes Gold Series competition. After winning the $200,000 final earlier in the month, freshman colt pacer Right Touch returned to the winner’s circle in the $30,000 first leg Saturday night. Taking control after the quarter for trainer Ray Paver, the Always A Virgin two year old picked up a 1:53.2 victory, winning by a length and a quarter.

Black Ops and Sam Widger forged to the lead in the stretch and held on by three parts of a length over Mister Virgin to claim the $30,000 first division in 1:52.2. The Allamerican Captor freshman is trained by Ernie Gaskin. The colt was bred by Oldfield Farm.

« Back