Don’t Chip Me rallies for feature score

Don’t Chip Me got up just in time to nail the favourite in the harness racing feature pace at Monticello Raceway on Sunday.

The mare motored to an early lead from post five for Bruce Aldrich Jr., but the even-money Moonlightandroses (Cory Stratton) circled her for front-end control before the quarter in :28.2. The latter paced a :58.2 and 1:28 tempo to three-quarters and created a three-length gap as the field of six turned for home.

Don’t Chip Me ate into the cushion as they entered the stretch and rolled past Moonlightandroses via the vacated passing lane for a 1:56.3 win in her Monticello debut. Moonlightandroses finished second. Stay Beautiful (Kyle DiBenedetto) was several lengths back in third.

DON’T CHIP ME REPLAY

John Hallett trains the $10.20 winner, a four-year-old daughter of Hypnotic Blue Chip. The mare has won 10 of her 53 lifetime appearances and earned more than $60,000. Hallett, a Margate resident, co-owns with Rick Howles of Lake Orion and Geoffrey Howles of Pompano Beach.

Aldrich Jr. went on to secure a driving triple with winning steers aboard Over Speeding (1:57.3) in the fourth and Verdi D Em (2:01.3) in the eighth. He is third in the drivers’ standings with 97 wins. Michael Merton is on top with 119, and Jim Taggart Jr. is second with 100.

Monticello Raceway is back on Tuesday, Jun. 22 with seven races, including an Open Pace.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink