by Kimberly French, USTA Web Newsroom Senior Correspondent

Kimberly French

Louisville, KY — He had some problems that compromised his freshman campaign, but it appears that Capital Blue Chip has put those troubles behind him and is now well-prepared for his sophomore season.

“He started out pretty well last year and then got kind of sidetracked,” remembered Linda Toscano, who is the colt’s conditioner. “He entrapped his epiglottis and needed throat surgery.

“In my experience, when those kinds of things happen, it’s difficult to play catch up,” the Brooklyn native continued. “He made a little bit of money, but I think the year finally took its toll on him, so we gave him a nice rest and decided to bring him back early to get a read on whether or not he was worth staking this year and knock on wood, so far he has come back very well and we are very, very happy with what he has done so far.”

The New York-bred son of Art Major-Ichiban Blue Chip, who is owned by Stake Your Claim 5 of Secaucus, N.J. and Fred Wallace of New York, N.Y., earned $44,975 from 9 starts at two, while competing primarily in New York Sire Stakes events.

Lisa photo

Capital Blue Chip stopped Joey The Czar by a half-length in first round action of the Junior Trendsetter series on Feb. 4 at Meadowlands Racetrack.

The colt captured a division of the Landmark Stakes at Goshen on July 2, where he established his 2-year-old mark of 1:59.4h, then a $21,710 division of a New York Sire Stakes race at Monticello on July 9, before finishing second in both a $20,815 division of the Tompkins-Geers at Tioga Downs on July 18 and in another $26,714 division of a New York Sire Stakes race at Buffalo Raceway on July 25.

Capital Blue Chip’s issues began after a New York Sire Stakes race at Vernon Downs on August 7, when the colt finished sixth behind Windfall Blue Chip.

“He went a really good race at Vernon behind one of George Teague’s good colts that is actually in the experimental ratings and then he started to have problems,” the 54-year-old Toscano said. “He made a little bit of money, just enough to get him qualified to the (New York Sire Stakes) final, but he didn’t race well.”

After a seventh place finish in the $175,000 New York Sire Stakes Final on September 26 at Vernon Downs, Capital Blue Chip received his vacation and returned to the races with two consecutive qualifying performances on January 7 and January 14 at the Meadowlands. In his 3-year-old pari-mutuel debut, he finished third in a $13,750 conditioned race on January 20 at The Big M before winning a $12,500 conditioned contest there on January 28 and then a $12,500 leg of the Junior Trendsetter series on February 4.

The colt has bankrolled $14,150 since January 1 and lowered his lifetime mark from 1:59.4h to 1.52.2.

“I’m going to talk to the owners during this snowstorm actually and decide how we want to stake him,” explained Toscano. “We definitely will, it’s just how much we will stake him to. I think for sure all the New York-bred races and maybe we will give him a couple chances here and there to rise to the occasion, if he acts likes he’s good enough. He’s a lovely horse.”

Capital Blue Chip gets back into action on Thursday night (Feb. 11) in second round action of the Junior Trendsetter series. Here’s how the field lines up:

Race 6-Meadowlands-$12,500 Junior Trendsetter div.
PP-Horse-Driver-Trainer
1-Dallenbach Hanover-Pat Berry-Gary Finnigan
2-Vintage Fenom-John Sheehan-Chris Marino
3-Capital Blue Chip-Yannick Gingras-Linda Toscano
4-Panigmatical-Ron Pierce-Richard Norman
5-Cambest Kisser-Daniel Dube-Bruce Saunders
6-Native Treasure-George Brennan-Dylan Davis
7-Most Happy Dragon-Tim Tetrick-Steve Elliott
8-BG’s Folly-Ron Pierce-George Berkner
9-Rush Of Fools-David Miller-James Eaton
10-No Monkeys Allowed-John Campbell-Chris Ryder