Chrome Mine hangs on to win Sylvia Bishop Memorial

Chrome Mine improved her record to four wins from five starts by taking the $50,000 Sylvia Bishop Memorial Stakes at Charles Town Saturday night - but it wasn’t easy.

Chrome Mine tracked the pacesetting Pocket Gift early under jockey Jose Montano, wrestled the lead away from Pocket Gift nearing the second turn of the seven-furlong race, and held a two-length with a furlong remaining. Pocket Gift was not finished, however, and she came again in the stretch to just miss by a head.

Pepper Bay, who raced in third position while outrun by the top pair early, also rallied late to finish three-quarters of a length behind Pocket Gift.

The fractions of the race were 23.09 seconds, 46.67, and 1:11.30. Chrome Mine got her final furlong in 14.45 to complete the distance in 1:25.75.

Chrome Mine is a daughter of Mineshaft out of Carnival Chrome, a mare who won 10 of her 16 career starts and six stakes at Charles Town. Chrome Mine is owned and was bred by Michael J. Miller and is trained by David Walters.

Chrome Mine paid $3.80 as the favorite in the field of six West Virginia-bred 3-year-old fillies. The race was the local prep for the $85,000 West Virginia of Tourism on Oct. 16.