Delaware County Fair: Plunge Blue Chip captures Miss Versatility final

Plunge Blue Chip secured the lead and held on tenaciously to win the $100,000 final of the Miss Versatility Series for trotting mares at the Delaware County Fair. The final time was 1:52 1/5.

Coming into this race off a rallying second to Atlanta in the Charlie Hill Memorial at Scioto Downs, Plunge Blue Chip (Ake Svanstedt) was sent off at 1-2 and left the gate from post three. She was able to clear Emoticon Hanover (Daniel Dube) passing the 27 2/5 opening quarter, then backed down the half to 56 2/5. Custom Cantab (Aaron Merriman) came first-over from the fourth spot prior to the half, and she was advancing at that point.

The pace quickened after the half as Plunge Blue Chip fought off Custom Cantab to the 1:23 4/5 three-quarters and around the last turn. In the lane Emoticon Hanover squeezed up the inside and took a run at Plunge Blue Chip as well, but Plunge Blue Chip would not anybody pass as she hit the wire half a length the good. Emoticon Hanover, Custom Cantab, Dream Together (Bob McClure), and Satin Dancer (Ronnie Wrenn Jr.) rounded out the top-five finishers.

"She was great today, and it was a big mile here on the half-mile track," said Svanstedt. "In the last three races she has been good, and I hope she can stay good the rest of the year. I had a lot of horse in the lines, so I was not worried."

A 4-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass, Plunge Blue Chip is trained and owned by Svanstedt in partnership with her breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Tomas Andersson. This was her 19th career win, and she has now earned $1,173,509. She returned $3.00 to win.