Osprey Blue Chip & Brett Craword

Osprey Blue Chip (American Ideal) is in the midst of her best stretch since coming to Saratoga Casino Hotel a couple seasons ago. A winner of four of her last seven starts leading up to Thursday afternoon’s feature at the Spa, Osprey Blue Chip was assigned the rail for her second try in the local Open for fillies and mares. Brett Crawford picked up the catch-drive for trainer Lisa Zabielski in a race in which Osprey Blue Chip was dismissed at odds of 21-1. After getting away third, Osprey Blue Chip stuck to the pylon path and as pocket-sitting Sandy Sue popped the pocket around the final turn, the longshot gobbled up ground on the inside turning for home. Sandy Sue (Billy Dobson), a winner of two consecutive Opens for distaffers heading into Thursday’s try in the $15,000 feature, came up second-best as Osprey Blue Chip surged up the passing lane before stopping the timer in 1:54.4. Sandy Sue was the runner-up while the favored Made Of Jewels As (Jay Randall) had to settle for third. Osprey Blue Chip’s win price of $45.80 is the largest for an Open winner at Saratoga since back in February when Aberforth pulled off a shocker in the Open Trot and returned $79.00 to win. The exacta paid $227 while the triple returned $1,033 in the six-horse feature for the ladies on Thursday afternoon.

Live racing resumes on Saturday evening with a first post time set for 6:45pm.

Mike Sardella

Photo: Melissa Simser-Iovino

PURCHASE RACE PHOTOS

Win photos can be purchased race nights at the photographer's booth in the lower clubhouse, or by calling 518-681-9351.

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