Pocono: Atlanta, Plunge Blue Chip cruise to Crown elimination wins

While the top three sophomore trotting fillies in the sport were on hand at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono for the second of two $25,000 Breeders Crown eliminations for the class, the race lacked any drama as Hambletonian winner Atlanta never had an anxious moment in a 1:53 1/5 score.

Driver Scott Zeron had Atlanta motoring off the gate and she easily assumed the lead over Lily Stride in the pocket and Manchego in third. The fractions were soft – 28 2/5, 57 4/5, and 1:26 – over the sloppy going as the field stayed in single file until just before the third call when Phaetosive pulled from last.

By the head of the lane the race was long over as Atlanta barely broke a sweat while sprinting home in 27 1/5 to hold off an urged Lily Stride. Manchego never seemed comfortable over the surface and was a flat third. Phaetosive rallied decently for fourth and Supergirl Riley earned a berth in next Saturday’s final by getting fifth.

“I’m sure Yannick (Gingras, Manchego) was being conservative and I wanted to be conservative too,” said Zeron about his strategy.

For Atlanta, a 3-year-old daughter of Chapter Seven bred by the Order By Stable, the victory was her eighth in 13 starts this year for owners Rick Zeron, Crawford Farms, Holland Racing Stable, Howard Taylor and Bradley Grant. She paid $4.20 to win.

A record mile wasn’t in the cards over the sloppy Pocono surface, but it was another day at the office for Plunge Blue Chip, the only two-time sub 1:50 trotter in the history of the sport, in the first elimination.

Twice a 1:49 4/5 winner this year, Plunge Blue Chip and driver Ake Svanstedt waited in fourth early on as Top Expectations wrestled the early lead from Looking For Zelda in the 27-second opening quarter. Shortly past that call Svanstedt said go and Plunge Blue Chip edged up on the rim, closing the gap after the 56 2/5 half and edging clear by the 1:25 three-quarter marker.

In the stretch, Plunge Blue Chip was asked for some speed by Svanstedt and the daughter of Muscle Mass drew clear as a much the best winner in 1:53 3/5.

“Tonight she was the same horse again,” said Svanstedt, referencing a disappointing second heat in the Kentucky Filly Futurity where he felt dehydration was an issue.

Impinktoo rallied nicely from a tough third-over spot to be second ahead of fellow finalists Looking For Zelda (pocket trip) and Courtney Hanover (winner’s cover).

Owned by driver/trainer Svanstedt, breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock, Tomas Andersson and Rick Zeron Stables, Plunge Blue Chip has now won eight times in 14 starts this year. She paid $3.20 to win.

Here is how the field will line up for the final:

1-Plunge Blue Chip
2-Supergirl Riley
3-Atlanta
4-Lily Stride
5-Looking For Zelda
6-Courtney Hanover
7-Phaetosive
8-Manchego
9-Impinktoo