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

Nichols, NY — Hypnotic Blue Chip leads a field of 15 sophomore colt and gelding pacers for Sunday’s Empire Breeders Classic eliminations at Tioga Downs.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Hypnotic Blue Chip has won six times in 17 career starts and banked $139,408 lifetime.

Tim Tetrick has been listed to drive Hypnotic Blue Chip in the first division, sporting number two, but leaving from post position one. The son of Art Major has been racing in stakes events at The Meadowlands since early this year and captured the final of the Junior Trendsetter in mid-February. However, he was the beaten favorite in the $104,400 Matt’s Scooter final, and in last weekend’s $230,000 Berry’s Creek Final he was interfered with down the backside and made a break.

Mark Harder trains and co-owns Hypnotic Blue Chip with Deena Frost, Stable 45, and Robert Murphy, who purchased the colt at the Harrisburg Sale in 2007 for $75,000. Thus far in 2009 the sophomore pacer has posted five wins, two seconds, and a third in nine starts for earnings of $95,028 and a mark of 1:50.2.

One of the main contenders looking to upset Hypnotic Blue Chip is one of his ex-stablemates, OK Braveheart, who used to be in the Mark Harder stable before relocating to the Chris Oakes stable. Since moving into the new barn OK Braveheart has added lasix and posted a win and a second in two starts. In his last start the Bettor’s Delight-Color Me Beachy colt posted a new lifetime mark of 1:52, winning by more than three lengths with a final panel of :27.2 in an overnight event at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs.

2008 New York Sire Stakes champion Hay Goodlooking leads the second division of pacing colts. The son of Art Major-Monique’s Legacy posted six wins and a second in nine seasonal starts last year for earnings of more than $186,000. His lifetime mark of 1:52.4 was established at Tioga Downs in a division of the New York Sire Stakes. The mile at that time also established a track record for 2-year-old colt pacers which was later lowered by Schoolkids in the Kindergarten Classic Final. Trainer and co-owner Gates Brunet has been listed with the driving assignment.

Indulge Me headlines a group of 12 sophomore fillies split into two divisions for their Empire Breeders Classic eliminations. The daughter of Bettor’s Delight-Summer Child offered owners Robert and Lauren Tucker some return on their $55,000 yearling investment last year as Indulge Me banked over $227,000. She posted five wins, two seconds, and six thirds in 15 seasonal starts for trainer Ed Lohmeyer. Indulge Me captured her lifetime mark of 1:52 at The Red Mile last fall in a division of the International Stallion Stakes. Hall of Famer Mike Lachance, who just passed 10,000 career wins, has been listed to drive on Sunday at Tioga Downs.

Finals of the Empire Breeders Classic will be held on Sunday, May 24, for pacers at Tioga Downs with a post time of 1:30 p.m., and on Monday, May 25 (Memorial Day), for the trotters at Vernon Downs, post time 1:15 p.m.

Here are the fields for Sunday’s eliminations at Tioga Downs.

Race 5-Purse $12,500-3-year-old filly pacers
HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-1-Keep It Fair-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
2-2-Allamerican Caress-Sam Schillaci-Sam Schillaci
3-3-Rumrunner Bluechip-Jeff Gregory-Mark Harder
4-4-Major’s Sweetheart-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Ed Hart
5-5-Perfect Launch-Tim Tetrick-Linda Toscano
6-6-Bet On Luck-Jim Marohn, Jr.-George Teague, Jr.

Race 6-Purse $12,500-3-year-old colt pacers
HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-2-Mr Vitti-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
1A-4-Bet The Town-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
2-1-Hypnotic Blue Chip-Tim Tetrick-Mark Harder
3-3-Art’s Jimmy Ray-Andrew McCarthy-Brendan Johnson
4-5-Seattle Moon-Jim Marohn, Jr.-John Stark, Jr.
5-6-Redneck Outlaw-Greg Grismore-Daniel Altman
6-7-Prince Argental-Billy Dobson-John Berger
7-8-OK Braveheart-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Chris Oakes

Race 8-Purse $12,500-3-year-old filly pacers
HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-1-Stolly Up Bluechip-Jim Morrill, Jr.-Mark Ford
2-2-Twin B Treasure-Tim Tetrick-Mark Kesmodel
3-3-JK Cameo-Tim Tetrick-Linda Toscano
4-4-Indulge Me-Mike Lachance-Ed Lohmeyer
5-5-Up Front Kellie Jo-Dave Palone-Perry Simser
6-6-JW Blue Blue Chip-Jim Marohn, Jr.-George Teague, Jr.

Race 9-Purse $12,500-3-year-old colt pacers
HN-PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-1-Big Rock Star-Billy Dobson-Ed Hart
2-2-Hay Goodlooking-Gates Brunet-Gates Brunet
3-3-Monkey Off My Back-David Miller-Chris Ryder
4-4-Where’s Waldo-Tim Tetrick-Linda Toscano
5-5-Haroun Hanover-Jim Marohn, Jr.-George Teague, Jr.
6-6-Tyree-Ray Schnittker-Ray Schnittker
7-7-Woodstock Hanover-Stephane Bouchard-Noel Daley