Obvious Blue Chip, Wild Bill tally at Harrah’s Philadelphia
July 4, 2018,by PHHA/Harrah’s Philadelphia
Chester, PA — Trainer Gareth Dowse can do little wrong these days.
He took over the care of Obvious Blue Chip, the New York Sire Stakes champion and winner of $379,000 at age 3 but a puzzlement in two starts at 4. He discovered her key, then sent her out to overcome post eight and a 29-day break from the races with a 1:51.1 victory Wednesday afternoon (July 4) in the $17,000 fillies and mares pacing feature at Harrah’s Philadelphia.
Tim Tetrick had little trouble reaching the top despite the outer draw and rattled off fractions of :27.1, :55.3, and 1:24 with the Roll With Joe mare. In the stretch, it looked like pocketsitter Pass Line Bluechip (Victor Kirby) could be a threat. But Obvious Blue Chip won the eighth race on the card by 1-1/2 lengths.
The win boosted her earnings to $423,409, for owners NLG Racing Stable and Stephen Klunowski.
Tetrick was also behind Wild Bill, the full brother to world champion and Dan Patch Award winner Huntsville. He is a colt who had shown much promise before his 2-year-old season ended after four starts. Making his first purse start in nearly 11 months, Wild Bill was victorious in the 12th race, scoring in a lifetime best 1:51.4.
Wild Bill settled in third early from post seven as Artifact Hanover took advantage of the rail and was sent down the road by Corey Callahan. Tetrick placed Wild Bill into play down the backside. The two were virtually inseparable from before the three-quarter pole.
It was only in the shadow of the wire that Wild Bill laid claim to victory by a neck. Ray Schnittker is the trainer and owner of the Somebeachsomewhere sophomore.