by Timothy M. Jones, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Springfield, IL — If there were such a thing as “Frequent Trailer Miles,” Spread The Chips, Illinois’ 2-year-old filly Trotter of the Year, and harness racing’s 2007 freshman leader in wins among trotters, could cash in a bundle. Her early to mid-season round-trip mileage between Vardaman, Miss., and county fairs in Illinois, plus the successful manner in which she raced despite the marathon trailer miles, were a credit to the filly’s determination and desire.

The homebred daughter of Band’s Gold Chip, then owned and trained by Jerry Mims, had not gone unnoticed in her first seven starts over rural half-mile ovals. Following a second place finish at the Brown County Fair in Mt. Sterling, Ill., potential trainer Tom Grummel and owner Dr. Patrick Graham felt they needed a closer look.

“The races at Mt. Sterling are at night,” Grummel said. “We didn’t get a real good look, the barns are lighted, but not enough for inspecting horses. But from what I could see, I liked.”

“There were three horses that caught my eye at the fairs, beginning with the first fair at Decatur,” recalled Dr. Graham. “They all just happened to be sired by Band’s Gold Chip. What interested me so much in his 2-year-olds wasn’t the fact they were winning, it was the huge margins they were winning by.

“I initially was interested in a colt that Jerry Mims owned, but thought later that a filly would be better because I could make her a part of my broodmare band when she was done racing.”

The trainer and owner talked things over and decided to try and proceed with the purchase. Grummel attempted several times to reach Mims over the phone, but when he finally did, Mims and the horse were back home in Mississippi.

Price negotiations ebbed and flowed until finally agreed upon. However, the buyers wanted one more look before writing a check, so the parties decided to meet the following day at Du Quoin. Spread The Chips was trailered again for the trip back to Illinois, covering approximately 1,000 miles round trip in less than 48 hours.

“I jogged her about 200 yards on the track at Du Quoin,” recalled Grummel, “turned, brought her back and told Dr. Graham ‘We better buy this filly, she’s alright!’”

Her start at Mt. Sterling was the evening of August 2, and on August 5 she became the property of new owners Tina D. and Dr. Patrick Graham.

Timothy M. Jones photo

Spread The Chips and Andy Miller head for the winner’s circle after setting the stakes record in the Shawnee Final at Du Quoin.

Spread The Chips promptly set stakes records in two of her next four consecutive wins for the new owners and trainer. Both timed in 1:55.4 with Andy Miller at the reins, her elimination win in the Illinois State Fair Colt Stakes was called a “jog mile” by the Orange Crush.

Her 10-1/2 length, field demolishing win in the Shawnee Final at Du Quoin on World Trotting Derby day was in wire-to-wire fashion, and for the most part, uncontested.

Her only blemish came at the hooves of Creamy Mimi in the American-National stakes at Balmoral Park in September. She led for most of the mile before giving way to the eventual winner in that track’s seemingly infinite stretch. Creamy Mimi was credited with the new track record of 1:56.2; Spread The Chips would have equaled the previous mark with her timing of 1:56.3.

Bouncing back in her final two starts of 2007, the young Illinois bred won consecutive late September and early October starts in late closing events at The Red Mile. Both victories came on the front end, which seems to be her manner of choice, the first an 11 length romp, the second by a 4-1/2 length margin. Those victories may have been what sealed the deal assuring her year-end divisional honors in the Prairie State.

“I was hoping we had done enough to get that,” said Dr. Graham, “but you never know.”

“That was a thrill you could never, ever believe,” gushed Grummel. “It was a pleasure to stand up there and receive that award.”

Sometimes 2-year-old sensations find the water a little deeper to tread as 3-year-olds. Grummel’s philosophy of not letting a young horse down completely over the winter may be the advantage Spread The Chips relishes over her competition.

She enjoyed short periods of turn out time at the Greene County fairgrounds in Carrollton, Ill., where Grummel is based. She was also jogged on a regular basis and trained once a week; or at least as often as the tough Illinois winter weather would allow. All systems are “go” to qualify near the end of March.

“She may qualify around the 20th of March,” predicted Dr. Graham.

“We plan to start her back racing the first of April in a couple early stakes in Chicago,” said Grummel. “Those will prep her for the Violet. We’ll give her a little break and then go on after that.”

Spread The Chips’ 2008 dance schedule includes nominations to the Hanover and American-National stakes at Balmoral. Providing she stays healthy, she won’t be racing in late closers at Lexington this fall, she’ll go behind the gate in the Bluegrass Stakes.

Graham was unable to follow his prized filly to Lexington last year, but states that won’t be the case for he and wife Tina this year.

If you happen to run into Dr. Graham today (March 11), wish him good luck with Spread The Chips, and Happy Birthday!