by Frank Drucker, Publicity Director, Empire City at Yonkers Raceway

Yonkers, NY — Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt, $2.30) returned to town Monday night (Sept. 11), having missed 29 days with a scratch-sick in between. She was quite healthy, which in turn made her rivals very ill.

Mike Lizzi photo

Plunge Blue Chip scored in a track-record time of 1:56.2.

Perfect Plunge Blue Chip expunged Barn Bella from Yonkers Raceway’s track records, highlighting the $157,000 New York Sire Stakes Pat Quaglietta Trot for 2-year-old fillies. Three divisions — at $52,000, $52,000 and $53,000, respectively — comprised the event, with the starlet also serving as the opening act.

Away third from post position No. 2, Plunge Blue Chip watched as Perfect Summer K (Brian Sears) gave her backers an early (:29, :59) thrill. Moving toward the 1:28.1 three-quarters, Plunge Blue Chip engaged the leader, who offered no resistance.

Plunge Blue Chip slapped a six-pack of lengths entering the lane, gearing down to win by 9-3/4 lengths in that new Westchester standard of 1:56.2, a full second faster than Barn Bella from a season ago. A Thing Goin On (Brett Miller) was second, with Sevenbuyeleven (Jordan Stratton) third.

Plunge Blue Chip, a Muscle Mass-Dunk The Donato miss co-owned by her driver/trainer and breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock, is now five-for-five to begin her career. The exacta paid $4.70, with the triple (three wagering favorites in order) returning $25.80.

“She had a cough (reason for Monticello NYSS scratch) and the time off before this race helped her,” Svanstedt said.

Driver/trainer doubled-up in the second statebred soiree, but at least this was a fair fight.

Lucky Ava, from post No. 5, went the distance (:30.1, 1:00.3, 1:29.4, life-best 1:59.2) She held off pocket-sitting Setntheworldonfire (Andy McCarthy) by three-quarters of a length. White Cheetah (Mark MacDonald) was a first-up third.

For Lucky Ava, a Lucky Chucky-Ava Marion lass co-owned by Svanstedt, Little E LLC and Van Camp Trotting, it was her fourth win in seven seasonal starts. The exacta paid $12.80, with the triple returning $32 (the six starters finished in ascending wagering order).

The final Quaglietta contest saw odds-on Supergirl Riley (Marcus Miller, $3.90) dispose of her six inside foes in a down-the-road (:28, :58.1, 1:28.4, 1:58) win by 2-3/4 lengths. Fury Road (McCarthy) chased the winner around the oval, with Lucky Rainbow (Brian Sears) third.

For Supergirl Riley, a daughter of Muscle Mass-Crown Laurel trained by Erv Miller for co-owners Paymaq Racing, Harvey Eisman and George Golemes, it was her fourth win in seven ’17 tries. The exacta paid $17.60, with the triple returning $59.50.

This race completed a very popular all-odds-on Pick-5, which returned a season-low $22.12 for every correct 50-cent wager.