Tioga: Plunge Blue Chip victorious in Joie De Vie

Plunge Blue Chip overtook Manchego after a pocket trip and was a 1:51 3/5 victor in the $133,000 Joie De Vie for trotting mares on Sunday afternoon at Tioga Downs.

Driven by Scott Zeron for the first time, Plunge Blue Chip showed speed from post six and was able to get into the two-hole behind Manchego before the 26 1/5 opening quarter. When Dovescry (David Miller), who won the Steele Memorial for this group last Saturday at the Meadowlands, also left from post seven but couldn't find a hole and had to back off into fifth.

Manchego maintained command through a 55 2/5 half and a 1:22 4/5 three-quarters, and nobody could make any headway on the outside in the that fast third quarter. Manchego couldn't lose Plunge Blue Chip, though, and Zeron pointed her two-wide the final bend. Once she was shown the clear racetrack, Plunge Blue Chip went right past Manchego and on to a 1 1/4 length decision. Felicityshagwell (Andy Miller) sat third and also out-footed Manchego to come in second. Pure Chance (Aaron Merriman) checked in fourth and Princess Deo (Andrew McCarthy) got fifth.

A 5-year-old mare by Muscle Mass, Plunge Blue Chip is trained by Ake Svanstedt, and he also shares ownership with breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. and Tomas Andersson. Plunge Blue Chip has a record of 21-10-7 from 44 career tries, and she has now earned $1,375,096. The 4-1 third choice, Plunge Blue Chip returned $10.00 to win.