Pocono: Plunge Blue Chip makes 4-year-old debut in qualifier

Millionaire trotting mare Plunge Blue Chip was impressive in her first official trip behind the gate in her 4-year-old season, going wire-to-wire in 1:54 2/5 in a qualifier Wednesday morning at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

The daughter of Muscle Mass was guided as usual by trainer Ake Svanstedt, and she set fractions of 29 2/5, 58 4/5, and 1:27 en route to a 5-1/2 length victory, with a back half of 55 3/5, and a final quarter of 27 2/5. Ake Svanstedt Inc. co-owns the talented trotter with Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Tomas Andersson.

Last year Plunge Blue Chip turned in three world record performances. Over a mile track she twice trotted in 1:49 4/5, at The Meadowlands and at The Red Mile, to tie with fellow then-sophomore Impinktoo as the fastest distaff trotter in North America in 2018. At Delaware she tied the divisional world record of Frau Blucher with a 1:53 1/5 victory. She also won her New York Sire Stakes championship, and her career figures are now 26-17-3-4 for earnings of $1,003,559.

-edited release (Pocono/PHHA)