by John Horne, for Tioga Downs

Nichols, NY — Obvious Blue Chip (Scott Zeron) and Roaring To Go (Brett Miller) each captured a leg of the New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) for sophomore pacing fillies at Tioga Downs Monday afternoon (Sept. 4).

Obvious Blue Chip (Roll With Joe) would win the first division of the NYSS ($60,200) by besting Tequila Monday (Brett Miller) and Artrageous (Mark MacDonald).

Fred Brown photo

Obvious Blue Chip impresses yet again by dispatching of Tequila Monday in NYSS action at Tioga Downs on Monday.

Miller and Tequila Monday took the lead immediately after the leaving the gate and strode through the first three-quarters in a respectable :27.1, :55.0, and 1:22.1.

Obvious Blue Chip ($4.40), who won the Empire Breeders Classic two weeks ago, merely bided her time in the garden seat and when the she was called upon, passed her rival with authority springing out of the pocket at the top of the stretch to reach the finish line 1-1/2 lengths clear of that rival.

Out of the ironically named daughter of Rocknroll Hanover, Put On A Clinic, Obvious Blue Chip, who added the $257,850 Empire Breeders Classic final to her win column on Aug. 20, is owned by NFG Racing Stable with Stephen Klunowski.

The filly is trained by Mark Steacy and would win for the fifth time this year from 11 journeys to the post. Her time of 1:50.2 was a new lifetime best and she has now amassed $264,073 from 21 starts.

A top contender in her division as a 2-year-old, Roaring To Go (Brett Miller) returned to the winner’s circle for the second occasion in 2017 to annex the second division of the NYSS ($61,300) in 1:51.4.

The public’s selection, Clear Idea (Mark MacDonald) made no bones about wanting the lead and owning it, as she and her pilot laid down fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.1. Miller and his filly simply were waiting for their opportunity to pounce as they paced in second until after the half-mile. They were then shuffled to third position by the first-over advance of Planet Rock (Jason Bartlett).

Miller provided Roaring To Go with her cue and the filly would charge three-wide to overhaul Planet Rock, second, and Clear Idea, who held the show spot, for the ninth victory of her career.

Conditioned by Kevin Lare and owned by Frank Chick, Roaring To Go has now earned $427,587 from 25 starts.

Live racing returns to Tioga Downs on Friday (Sept. 8) at 6:50 p.m.

For more information go to www.tiogadowns.com.