Parisian Blue Chip makes successful return

Conditioned harness racing competitor Parisian Blue Chip (Bettors Delight) was victorious in a closing effort in her seven-year-old debut on Friday (May 27).

Scott Young tucked the mare into the six-hole as several foes flashed speed in a :27 first quarter mile. He moved her third-over as they hit the half in a blistering :54.4 brought on by battling leaders and held her on cover through three-quarters in 1:24.

Parisian Blue Chip fanned wide as the field straightened for home and hit her stride in mid-stretch, passing four foes with a late blast to score in 1:53.2. She out-kicked Sunday Afternoon (Doug McNair), who got up for place. Jm Betonsix held third after a grueling parked-out mile.

The winner returned $15.10.

Shawn Steacy conditions Parisian Blue Chip for Stephen Klunowski of North York and David McDonald of Cornwall. She won her second preparatory qualifier in 1:53 on May 20 after a sixth-place finish in her first qualifying outing of the season. The mare has 23 wins and $447,589 in earnings to her name after 93 lifetime starts.

Also on the card, Nick Boyd recorded his first driving victory at the Campbellville oval since Feb. 7, 2019. The reinsman sent his trainee, Bluemea Kiss (Heston Blue Chip), out to an early lead in the second race and received a pocket ride behind Quebecoise (Travis Cullen), who took the lead at the quarter but was overtaken by Day To Party (McNair) at the half. Boyd gave his mare cover behind Quebecoise, who rallied first-up from second around the final turn, and Bluemea Kiss blew by both rivals to win in 1:51.3.

It was her first victory of the season for owners Brydown Farms of Clinton, Kenneth Boyd of Newcastle, and Tyler Durst, another Clinton resident. Boyd’s most recent win at Mohawk Park came behind Brydown Houston, another Brydown Farms horse. Boyd is eight-for-58 in the sulky so far this season; his win with Bluemea Kiss was his first as a trainer this year.

A rescheduled $122,600 SBOA Final for sophomore pacing males and a $36,000 Preferred Pace highlight Woodbine Mohawk Park’s next card on Saturday, May 28. First post is listed as 7:00 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink