Parisian Blue Chip ships, scores

Parisian Blue Chip returned to Canadian harness racing on Thursday in the Rideau Carleton Raceway Fillies and Mares Preferred and romped.

She rolled to the lead from post six for Clarke Steacy, who was driving the mare for the first time. Parisian Blue Chip set down splits of :28, :57.1, and 1:26 with Thinkingofyoubabe (Guy Gagnon) chasing her in the pocket.

Those two streaked away from the field turning for home, and Parisian Blue Chip separated herself from Thinkingofyoubabe in the stretch by five and a quarter lengths for the former’s first win of the season in 1:53.2. Thinkingofyoubabe finished second; Arrhythmogenic (Daniel St. Pierre) was far back in third.

PARISIAN BLUE CHIP REPLAY

Parisian Blue Chip’s record is now 17-for-70 lifetime. The six-year-old Bettors Delight mare, who returned $3.40 on Thursday, has earned $338,919. Before the Preferred assignment, she returned to Shawn Steacy’s barn, her home from April 2019 until she moved to New York and Peter Tritton’s care in February 2021. Stephen Klunowsi of North York owns the mare with David McDonald of Cornwall.

Gagnon recorded four victories as a driver and two as a trainer during the evening. Mandy Archer took top honours among conditioners with a trio of win photos.

Rideau Carleton Raceway will be back on Sunday, Jul. 4 at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink