by Rich Fisher, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Rich Fisher

Trenton, NJ — It’s pretty obvious that Arthur Blue Chip is a good racehorse.

Just how good, remains to be seen.

“Well, it might seem ironic when you have a colt making (nearly) $260,000 that has six wins in 10 turns, but myself and the partners involved, we’ve been disappointed with him in many ways,” said trainer Ian Moore, who owns the horse with R G McGroup and NHL legend Serge Savard. “We’ve had a lot of bad luck issues with this colt all summer long, beginning with the day before he qualified back in June.”

When Moore says “disappointed” he is referring to circumstances, not performance.

New Image Media photo

Arthur Blue Chip has six wins as a freshman and cashed $257,287 in checks.

Heading into Saturday’ $534,500 Governor’s Cup at the Meadowlands, the 2-year-old colt pacer has won $257,287, including victories in the Nassagaweya Stakes and his elimination for the Metro Pace. He also has three wins on the Ontario Sire Stakes circuit.

The Metro experience pretty much typified what Arthur Blue Chip has endured this season. He was scratched from the final.

“It’s just little things,” Moore said. “For example, all the 2-year-olds in the training center where he was were having problems or whatever. He won his Metro elimination, and he stayed good and then Thursday I trained him. He was one of the favorites going in, he coughed a couple times when I pulled him up.

“When he got in, I saw he had a lung infection, so I had to scratch him from the Metro. He would have been one of the best there. Maybe not the best, but he would have been top three or four anyway.”

That was just the start of the bad luck, as foot woes resulted in other issues in Ontario that led to four qualifiers after he won an Ontario Sire Stakes race on Sept. 21. His only race during that time was a fourth-place finish in his Breeders Crown elimination, which was one spot shy of advancing to the final.

Yet despite all the problems, Moore still likes the horse and feels he can have a big 3-year-old season if his health issues clear up.

“He’s a nice big beautiful colt,” the trainer said. “He started out rather nonchalant, shall we say. But as time has gone on, he’s gotten to be a very nice colt.

“In fact he’s probably the best 2-year-old I’ve ever had. If he has a good spring it bodes well for the future for him. He started growing recently again, got a little taller and just developed into a real nice animal. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

The problem is, he just can’t get enough good luck.

“It’s just kind of weird,” Moore said. “Because of what happened with the Breeders Crown, we’ve tried to extend the season a little bit longer. Quite frankly I’ve never had a 2-year-old this sharp and this fresh at this time of year.

“He’s basically been going for over a year now since Harrisburg last year. But he’s had a lot of time off with all the issues he had.”

Those issues have not gone away, as Arthur Blue Chip has been battling a problem in another foot that could keep him out of Saturday’s race.

“We’re trying to deal with that,” Moore said. “He wasn’t quite right last week when he qualified. He still qualified pretty decent but I don’t think he was able to give 100 percent.

“I’m not going to put him on the track if he’s not 100 percent. It’s not a serious issue, it’s one of those things that may not work out time-wise. I’m hopeful. And he’s got a big heart.”

The trainer also likes his attitude, noting he can be lazy at times but turns to all business once behind the gate.

“He’s had a lot of disappointments but yet he’s made a good bit of money and had a lot of wins,” Moore said. “He’s a really nice colt, I don’t believe we’ve extended him yet. We’ve done everything possible to preserve him for next year, this year he’s just had a lot of issues. Hopefully there’s good days ahead.”

If good health is ahead, they could be great days.

$534,500 Governor’s Cup
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1-Ari Allstar-Andy Miller-Jeffrey Gillis-15-1
2-So Surreal-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker-8-1
3-Idealbeach Hanover-John Campbell-Jeffrey Gillis-8-1
4-Carracci Hanover-Yannick Gingras-Ron Burke-10-1
5-JK Endofanera-Brian Sears-Ron Burke-5-2
6-Arthur Blue Chip-David Miller-Ian Moore-4-1
7-Somestarsomewhere-Matt Kakaley-Ron Burke-3-1
8-Stevensville-Tim Tetrick-Ray Schnittker-6-1
9-Bushwacker-Ron Pierce-Chris Ryder-20-1
10-Beat The Drum-Scott Zeron-Staffan Lind-15-1