by Hannah Beckett, for WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — When making an “Nvestment,” every dollar counts. Trainer Dave Menary expects to see it pay off as he sends out Nvestment Bluechip in the Metro Pace eliminations on Saturday night (Aug. 29) at Mohawk Racetrack.

“He was a very handsome colt at the sale, he was Ontario sired and I really liked his pedigree,” said Menary. “He stood out, really handsome and we got him at a good price.”

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Nvestment Bluechip won his career debut on July 11 in an OSS Gold event at Mohawk.

A $40,000 purchase at the Harrisburg yearling sale, owners Menary Racing Inc., Michael Guerriero, Denis Breton and Thomas Kyron have seen their colt bankroll nearly $75,000 so far.

The first foal out of Haze’s Zure Bet, he has picked up where she left off in the speed department. Getting off to a rocky start in her 2-year-old season, she turned a corner late in the year to set up a successful sophomore campaign. Picking up a mark of 1:54.4 at Saratoga, she went on to show speed of 1:52 over Vernon Downs in New York Sires Stakes action.

Bred to Shadow Play by breeders Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., she dropped a foal in early January 2013 who would grow up to become Menary’s next pacing star. Having campaigned He’s Watching, the small but mighty son of American Ideal who equaled an all-age world record of 1:46.4 in the Meadowlands Pace last year, he has large shoes to fill.

“This winter, breaking them and starting to train, he’s been my favorite,” said Menary. “He’s been a real professional from day one. He trained down excellent, started to go real fast and now he takes care of himself. He used to be a flashy trainer, now he’s not so much of a flashy trainer anymore. Now he waits for the big dance to show his speed.”

With four starts so far in his freshman campaign, Nvestment Bluechip has posted two wins, both in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold events. Setting a mark of 1:53.1 in his pari-mutuel debut, he has shown consistent speed with fast early fractions. Though Menary chose to bypass the Nassagaweya Stakes, which acted as a final prep for many of the horses entered, his trainee will head into Saturday off a victory at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Aug. 13.

“I’d like to see more speed out of him, but so far everything has been moving in the right direction,” said Menary. “He has more in the tank; it’s just a matter of time. A driver can do pretty much whatever they want with him on the track, he’s versatile.”

With 23 rookie pacers set to go in the Metro Pace eliminations, Nvestment Bluechip will start from post position eight in the first of three Metro events. He will be looking to finish on the board, the top three securing a spot in the final next week. The field will be rounded out with one fourth place finisher, drawn by lot.

“I would have liked to be inside,” said Menary. “It’s an uphill battle starting from way out there, but hopefully we’re good enough this week to come back again next week. You have to be in it to win it. I was on the fence about entering him in the Metro and he’s proven that he deserves the opportunity.”

For now, Menary hopes the next stakes engagement for Nvestment Bluechip will be the final on Sept. 5. He is looking ahead to the Champlain, the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final and the Breeders Crown which returns to Canadian soil this year.

“He’s one of the Sires Stakes point leaders with two Gold wins, so we’ll have the Super Final and a few other options outside of Sires Stakes as the year goes on. We’re playing it by ear as he progresses.”

The most coveted ‘Crown’ of all, the Breeders Crown races, act as the grand finale to each stakes season. Set to take place at Woodbine Racetrack in October, every trainer, owner and driver hopes to be there with the horse to beat.

“We need to finish the Sires Stakes and see how he makes it through all of that before the Breeders Crown,” said Menary. “It’s a nice option to have and a nice horse to have it with.”

Saturday is set to be a pacing affair at Mohawk Racetrack, with two She’s A Great Lady eliminations for 2-year-old fillies on the card in addition to the Metro Pace. There will also be two eliminations for the highly anticipated Canadian Pacing Derby.

The first race goes to post at 7:25 p.m.