Meadowlands: Plunge Blue Chip dominates in Goldsmith Maid final

Plunge Blue Chip backed up her romp in the elimination with another facile score in the $420,750 Goldsmith Maid final for rookie trotting fillies on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. Driven by trainer Ake Svanstedt, Plunge Blue Chip stopped the clock in 1:53 1/5, a new career mark.

50-1 shot Dab Hanover (Marcus Johansson) charged away to take the field to the opening quarter in 27 2/5, but Hey Blondie (Andrew McCarthy), who took a bye straight to the final, popped out of the pocket and took over command on the way to the 56 second half-mile marker.

Svanstedt brought Plunge Blue Chip first-over out of the third position at the half, and she would quickly gain on Hey Blondie, taking the lead on the outside before the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters. Plunge Blue Chip turned for home first, and when Hey Blondie broke stride in upper stretch, Plunge Blue Chip coasted home to an open-length verdict over Dab Hanover. Lily Stride (Tim Tetrick) was up for third from post ten.

"We didn't stake her too much, just in New York, so she has not raced so much on the big tracks," said Svanstedt. "Sometimes they don't have speed enough for the big track when they just race on half-mile tracks, but she's good. She came home in 26 1/5 in a qualifier June, so she was good also early in the year.

"We're going to stake her a little more in the Grand Circuit series next year."

A daughter of Muscle Mass, Plunge Blue Chip is owned by Svanstedt and breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. Plunge Blue Chip, who has earned $415,208 and won nine times from ten starts, 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 returned $3.20 to win as the 3-5 favorite.