Trainer in driver's seat

If Per Henriksen should happen to win Saturday’s Breeders Crown 2-Year-Old Colt Trot at Woodbine with Adrian Chip, he would tie a record of sorts in ending the longest-ever drought between Crown victories. Henriksen, 60, last drove a Crown winner in 1993, directing Expressway Hanover to a win in the championship event for 3-year-old filly trotters, and if the Norwegian native comes up a winner Saturday the 13-year gap would equal that of Richie Silverman’s well-spaced wins in 1986 and 1999.

“Yes, I’ll take another one,” Henriksen said with a laugh to harnessracing.com, although he issued a reminder that he did earn a Breeders Crown trainer trophy in 1999 with the 3-year-old filly trotter Oolong.

Adrian Chip is a son of Andover Hall out of the Pine Chip mare My Favorite Chip, who is out of the $206,000-winning mare Spinning Reel. A private purchase shortly before the 2005 Harrisburg sale, he is owned by Ernst Gerbaulet of Recklinghausen, Germany. It was Gerbaulet who owned the Henriksen-trained Amour Ami last year, who won half his 18 starts, including the $100,000 Pennsylvania Sire Stakes Championship final for 3-year-old male trotters.

Adrian Chip has made six starts, with four wins and two seconds. He began his career racing for Pennsylvania-based horseman Todd Schadel, for whom he posted his maiden victory at Rosecroft. He was sent to Henriksen in mid summer, and the colt responded by romping to wins in his first three starts at Rideau Carleton Raceway, scoring by 11 ¼ lengths, 8 ¼ lengths (a career-best 1:59.4 effort) and 9 ½ lengths, respectively.

Henriksen then shipped Adrian Chip to Woodbine, where he finished second in a conditioned race for 2 year olds and then second—by just three-quarters of a length—to the much-heralded Donato Hanover in their Breeders Crown elim last Friday night.

“When I got (Adrian Chip) he had a little soundness problem, but I didn’t have to do too much to him but give him a little ‘trotting touch,’ and he came around himself,” said Henriksen.

“He won at Rideau Carleton in 1:59 and that’s a heck of a mile,” he added. “The first time he raced at Woodbine he was sick, and we treated him for it. He cleaned up and raced a very, very good mile (in the elim). If I am right, he should be even better this week. He’s fresh and hasn’t been used much. He’s a very, very good horse.”

Adrian Chip will have his work cut out for him as he drew post nine. Donato Hanover leaves from post four, while elim winners Laddie and Mythical Lindy will leave from post two and three, respectively.

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