Maestro Blue Chip is favored in $73,500 Yonkers/SOA of New York Bonus Trotting Series
April 25, 2016,by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway
Yonkers, NY — They haven’t beaten him all season, and they’re probably going to have to go some to do it with the money on the table. Maestro Blue Chip, he of the 8-for-8 seasonal resume, looms a short-priced proposition Tuesday afternoon (April 26) in the $73,500 final of the Yonkers Raceway/Standardbred Owners Association of New York Bonus Trotting Series.
Mike Lizzi photo
Maestro Blue Chip is unbeaten in eight starts this year.
Post time for the dozen-race card is 1 p.m., with the series finale going as the fifth race. The series was open to 3-year-olds and their elders who were non-winners of six pari-mutuel races and/or $100,000 through this past Feb. 1 (winners over $150,000 through that date ineligible).
Maestro Blue Chip wears head No. 6 after drawing post position No. 5 in the finale of the four-week event, which has seen him win his three series legs by nearly 15 combined lengths — all as the odds-on choice. The 4-year-old son of Credit Winner is again driven by Tim Tetrick for owner Richard Poillucci and trainer Jo Ann Looney-King. Maestro Blue Chip enters with seasonal earnings of $68,250 and his 1:55.3 effort a week ago was the fastest mile of this series.
A List Lindy (Matt Kakaley, HN 1A, post two), Tuscanellie (Dan Dube, HN 2, post three) and Newcastle (Brett Miller, HN 6, post seven) each won twice in their series tries. Lakota (George Brennan, HN 1, post one), Jackie Goldstein (Vinny Ginsburg, HN 3, post four), Summers Windsong (Jason Bartlett, HN 4, post five) and Stormont Park (Jordan Stratton, HN 7, post eight) complete the field.
A $30,000 series consolation goes as the fourth race.
- “So far so good” for Maestro Blue Chip (Monday, March 21, 2016)
It is too soon to proclaim Maestro Blue Chip the next Modern Family, but the 4-year-old male trotter is following a similar ascent to success. Richard Poillucci bought Maestro Blue Chip at this year’s Tattersalls January Select Mixed Sale for $90,000. Since then, Maestro Blue Chip has gone 4-for-4 at Dover Downs and worked his way up the conditions ladder as he prepares for April’s Yonkers Raceway/SOA of New York Bonus Trotting Series.