Sunfire Blue Chip Strides Clear of Rivals in Adios

WASHINGTON, PA— Off of a 1:50.3 win in his elimination, Sunfire Blue Chip cleared the lead at the three-eighths mark and withstood all pressure applied, winning by three-quarters of a length over Vegas Vacation in 1:48.3.

Evenin Of Pleasure left for the lead, with Beach Memories to his outside applying pressure to the quarter. Beach Memories cleared the lead passing the quarter in :26. Sunfire Blue Chip edged out of third around the far turn and cleared the lead from Beach Memories passing three-eighths. Some Kinda Beach edged out of fourth and led the two wide flow to the half in :53.4 (:27.4).

Sunfire Blue Chip winning the Adios in 1:48.3

Sunfire Blue Chip held command under the pressure of Some Kinda Beach. Lonewolf Currier stalked the cover second over, with Vegas Vacation third over. Sunfire Blue Chip led by three-quarters in 1:21.2 (:27.3). Sunfire Blue Chip had 2 lengths on the field into the stretch. Lonewolf Currier came three wide and Vegas Vacation began flying four wide. Word Power was caught behind that bunch and weaved his way through, but Sunfire Blue Chip was clear to the line, winning the Adios in 1:48.3. Vegas Vacation was second, Word Power was third and Lonewolf Currier finished fourth.

“I just played it by ear,” driver Yannick Gingras said. “I was expecting Brian [Sears] to fire out of there [Vegas Vacation], but since he didn’t, I was open to anything. I saw that the two horses leaving [Evenin Of Pleasure and Beach Memories] weren’t the horses to beat, so I figured I had to get my horse to the top. Once I got to the lead, I was very comfortable.” 

Sunfire Blue Chip ($7.20) is sired by American Ideal, out of the mare Shot Togo Bluechip by Cam’s Card Shark. He is owned by Christina Takter, John & Jim Fielding, Brixton Medical Ab and R A W Equine Inc., trained by Jimmy Takter and was steered by Yannick Gingras to a lifetime mark-equaling mile of 1:48.3.

Also contested on the Adios card was the $136,920 Adioo Volo for sophomore filly pacers. Two divisions were contested.

Somwherovrarainbow took the sextet gate-to-wire in 1:51.1. Mattwestern was second and Antigua Hanover finished third.

Somwherovrarainbow winning the first division of the Adioo Volo

Somwherovrarainbow took the lead and the field by the quarter in :27.3. Champagne Tonight got away in second and Power Pack Hanover was third, but broke around the first turn. Antigua Hanover took the third spot as there was no change in order at the half in :56 (:28.2). Mattwestern made a move from fourth and was the only one to apply pressure to Somwherovrarainbow at three-quarters in 1:23 (:27).

Mattwestern was circling rivals heading into the stretch, but Somwherovrarainbow dug in and held off her challenge, winning in 1:51.1.

Somwherovrarainbow ($3.00) is owned by K & R Racing LLC, Ted Gewertz and trained George Teague Jr. with Montrell Teague guiding the Somebeachsomewhere-Rainbow Blue daughter.

Nikki Beach sat a pocket trip and flew by all her rivals to win in 1:51.3. Novascotia Hanover finished second and Handsoffmycupcake was third.

Carols Desire got the front, with Nikki Beach in second and Live Entertainment was in third. Carols Desire led by the quarter in :27. Handsoffmycupcake came first over, with Novascotia Hanover following second over. Carols Desire led by the half in :56.1 (:29.1). There was no change in order passing three-quarters in 1:23.4 (:27.3). Nikki Beach was locked in the pocket and once the passing lane was open, she went up it and was flying past horses to win the second Adioo Volo in 1:51.3 (:27.4).

Nikki Beach ($10.80) is owned by Brittany Farms, trained by Tony Alagna and Chris Page was in the bike, steering the Somebeachsomewhere-Western Wisdom to a 1:51.3 lifetime mark. 

Destiny’s Chance Receives Redemption in Second Adioo Volo

WASHINGTON, PA— After four failed efforts against stakes company, Destiny’s Chance got the best of the field to win the second division of the Adioo Volo in 1:51.1. Marty Party was second and Real Touch was third.

Podges Lady took the lead around the first turn. Real Touch pulled the pocket and cleared the top at the quarter in :27.1.

Real Touch was the tempo setter at the half in :55.4 (:28.3). Destiny’s Chance came first over and applied pressure at the five-eighths. Marty Party followed cover and locked at the cones was Podges Lady. Real Touch lead by three-quarters in 1:23.1 (:27.2).

Into the stretch, Real Touch gave way to Destiny’s Chance on the outside. Podges Lady came up the passing lane and Marty Party was closing three wide. They did not have enough to catch Destiny’s Chance as she paced the mile in 1:51.1 (:28).

Destiny’s Chance is a three-year-old filly by Four Starzzz Shark out of the mare Four Starz Sands by The Panderosa. She is owned by Randy Ringer, trained by Ron Burke and Tony Hall was in the bike to score in 1:51.1. 

Major Look Holds Off Darena Hanover in First Adioo Volo

WASHINGTON, PA— Major Look brushed first over past the three-eighths and held off a rally from Darena Hanover to win the first division of the $142,170 Adioo Volo Pace at The Meadows. Moonlit Dragon was second and Darena Hanover was disqualified and placed third.

Darena Hanover was the pace setter around the first turn, Moonlit Dragon sat second and Major Look was third. Darena Hanover lead at the quarter in :26.1. Major Look took the lead approaching the three-eighths, with Moonlit Dragon in third.

Major Look paced the half in :54 (:27.3). Moonlit Dragon came first over down the backstretch, with Lightning Paige coming second over and Shelliscape came third over. Darena Hanover was locked at the cones at three-quarters in 1:21.2 (:27.2).

Major Look winning the Adioo Volo
Photo courtesy of Kevin Decker

Into the stretch, Andy Miller tucked the whip away and gave Major Look a hand drive. Darena Hanover shot off the cones with one last surge, but was not enough to catch Major Look. She paced the mile in 1:49.2 (:28). Moonlit Dragon was interfered by Darena Hanover and was placed second and Darena Hanover was third.

Major Look is a three-year-old filly pacer by Art Major out of the mare Band Of Emeralds by Jate Lobell. She is owned by Joe Balkunas, Mark Giordano and Anthony Pancella, trained by Kevin Mc Dermott and Andy Miller was in the bike to win in a stakes record 1:49.2.