by Dustin Ross, regional racing operations manager, Tioga/Vernon Downs

Nichols, NY — Hypnotic Blue Chip and Tim Tetrick posted a stakes and track record of 1:50.3 in the final of the Empire Breeders Classic for 3-year-old colt pacers on Sunday afternoon (May 24) at Tioga Downs.

Hypnotic Blue Chip won the Empire Breeders Classic final for colts in a stakes and track record of 1:50.3.

Hypnotic Blue Chip settled in fourth going to the quarter as Hay Goodlooking and Stephane Bouchard led the field to the quarter in :27.1. Even before reaching the quarter pole Tetrick and Hypnotic Blue Chip were out looking for the lead and had command of the field past the three-eighths pole. The field reached the half in :54.4 and Hypnotic Blue Chip eased his way to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.

Tetrick stepped on the gas pedal at the three-quarter pole and left the field in the dust as he paced home in a final panel of :27.3 to win by seven lengths. Redneck Outlaw and Mike Lachance found racing room late take home the place money, while Hay Goodlooking and Stephane Bouchard, despite a two hole trip, could only settle for third.

Mark Harder trains the 3-year-old son of Art Major-A Tracceofmagic, who has now posted seven wins in 11 starts in 2009 and with the lion’s share of the $218,925 purse sports seasonal earnings of more than $210,000.

Mike Lachance and Indulge Me used a front end effort to take down the Empire Breeders Classic final for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Fred Brown Photography

Indulge Me was a front end winner in the Empire Breeders Classic event for pacing fillies.

Lachance sent the daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Armbro Wand to the front and cut fractions of :28, :56.2 and 1:24.2 before sprinting home in :28 to stop the timer in 1:52.2. The mile established a new seasonal mark for Indulge Me and kept the filly perfect in two starts in 2009. Ed Lohmeyer trains Indulge Me for Robert and Lauren Tucker.

Race favorite Perfect Launch and Tim Tetrick made a break going to the quarter pole, and when Tetrick was interviewed in the winner’s circle following Hypnotic Blue Chip’s victory he said that Perfect Launch threw a shoe just after the gate folded, which caused the break going to the quarter.

Tim Tetrick, Jim Morrill, Jr., Andy Santeramo, and Matt Kakaley each posted driving doubles on the 13-race card.

The trotting edition of the Empire Breeders Classic takes place at Vernon Downs on Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day), with a post time of 1:30 p.m. For more information on Tioga Downs please visit www.tiogadowns.com.