$114,000 NYSS at Monticello Raceway

Monticello, N.Y. – Splash Blue Chip highlights the field of harness racing trotting fillies on Monday, July 26 at Monticello Raceway as seven will vie for a purse of $114,000. Splash Blue Chip is a half-sister to Plunge Blue Chip (1:49.4, $1,576,176), one of the few three-year-old fillies to crack the sub 1:50 barrier.

The royally bred Splash Blue Chip, a $265,000 yearling purchase for owners Ake Svanstedt and Melby Gard Inc., will score from post position 5 with trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt in the bike. The daughter of EL Titan was a winner her last start in Sire Stakes company last week at Tioga Downs, were she notched a lifetime mark of 1:55.1, a two-length winner over Dream Chapter.

Dream Chapter, a bridesmaid last week to Splash Blue Chip, will start from post 4, with Scott Zeron sitting behind the Chapter Seven lass for the first time for trainer Domenico Cecere.

The Svanstedt barn also has Illuminata as part of the uncoupled entry scoringfrom post 2. She finished second in this company last start in NYSS at Tioga Downs.

Also on tap for the card are three heats of Excelsior A’s ($15,000) and one heat of Excelsior B ($6,000).

The first division of the A class is Race 2 and is also the most competitive heat. Izzy Demsky, hailing from the talented Marcus Melander stable, was an early season winner of the Lady Suffolk at Freehold Raceway and is looking to get back on the winning streak after three consecutive 2nd place finishes in Excelsior A company.

In Race 2, Mattias Melander will drive the filly. Lady Gidget, who starts from post 4 with Dave Miller in the sulky. She was a winner in this class two weeks ago in Goshen.

Insured AM S, owned by Courant Inc., figures to be the favorite in her race after a winning effort at Tioga Downs. She will be driven by Mattias Melander in Race 8 and will score from post 4. Insured AM S hails from the Melander Stable and is the morning line favorite in Race 8 in the Excelsior A dash.

Monday Post time is 12:10 p.m.

by Kimberly Winston, for Monticello Raceway