Maxdaddy Blue Chip (Sportswriter) had raced twice in the Open Pace at Saratoga Casino Hotel this spring before the Rene Allard trainee went to Pennsylvania to compete for a couple of months. The six year old pacer returned to the Spa on Saturday night with an Open win and a second place finish to his credit from his starts in May. Maxdaddy Blue Chip made his return to town a winning one as the 1-5 betting favorite in the $14,500 Saturday feature. Reinsman Billy Dobson moved Maxdaddy Blue Chip out to the early lead and together they enjoyed a very comfortable first lap that was paced in 56.2. The favorite never faced a legitimate challenge and lengthened his lead seemingly with every stride before pacing away from his rivals to prevail in 1:51.3 on a beautiful summer night in Saratoga Springs, NY. Deetzy (Jimmy Devaux), who parlayed his pocket ride to victory in last week’s Open, again got the two-hole trip on Saturday night but had to settle for a strong second place finish. Longshot Tullow N (Bruce Aldrich Jr) earned the show spot. Maxdaddy Blue Chip, who won fifteen times in 2017, prevailed for the third time in ’18. The meet’s leading driver, Dobson piloted three winners on the Saturday card.
Live racing continues on Sunday afternoon with a matinee beginning at 12:15pm.
Mike Sardella
Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino
