Vernon Downs: MacDonald joins 6,000 win club in New York Sire Stakes action

Plunge Blue Chip improved to six-for-six, but it was Atlanta and driver Mark MacDonald taking top billing in New York Sire Stakes action for rookie trotting fillies on Friday night at Vernon Downs as her track record 1:54 win in the first of two divisions was the 6,000th driving victory of MacDonald's career.

Going for a purse of $55,500, Atlanta and MacDonald got control away from Fury Road (Chris Lems) just past the 28 3/5 opening quarter. Atlanta then hit the half in 57 3/5 and the three-quarters in 1:26 3/5, with favored Supergirl Riley (Marcus Miller) positioned first-over and just a half-length back at three-quarters. Atlanta maintained the lead determinedly through the lane, and she would hold that half-length margin over Supergirl Riley to the finish line, with Perfect Summer K (Jimmy Whittemore) third.

The 1:54 clocking lowered the previous track record of 1:54 2/5 that had belonged to Lady Clarabella since 2014.

Trainer Rick Zeron also co-owns Atlanta, a Chapter Seven filly, with partners Holland Racing Stable, Howard Taylor, and Brad Grant. Atlanta, who was bred by Order By Stable and sold for $60,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, posted her third win from seven attempts, and she has now earned $72,611. She is out of the Cantab Hall mare Hemi Blue Chip, a half-sister to the likes of Hot Shot Blue Chip (Revenue S, $1,213,742). Atlanta was sent off at 5-2 and paid $7.50 to win.

In the other $56,500 flight, Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) led through fractions of 28 3/5, 58, and 1:27 2/5, then sprinted home in 27 3/5 to win by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:55. Lima Novelty (Jason Bartlett) was the runner-up after a second-over trip, and Big Checkmate (Donald Dupont) took third.

A daughter of Muscle Mass, Plunge Blue Chip is owned by Svanstedt and breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. Plunge Blue Chip, who has earned $108,333, was a $42,000 Harrisburg buy and is the second foal out of the Donato Hanover mare Dunk The Donato. Dunk The Donato's dam Irene's Lucky Lady (Winky's Pine) is a half-sister to $3.5 million earner Mr. Muscleman. Plunge Blue Chip was the 1-9 favorite and paid $2.30 to win.