Going wire to wire, 3-5 favourite Arthur Blue Chip won the $11,000 Preferred 2 Pace at Georgian Downs on Sunday (July 3), pacing the mile in 1:53.1.

 

Arthur Blue Chip started from post six along with driver Tyler Moore, securing the lead through a :27.2 first quarter. Pacing a half in :57.2 and three-quarters in 1:24.3, he held control over pocket-sitter and second-place finisher Buddha Blue Chip, while Mckinney closed from eighth to finish third.

 

A five-year-old Shadow Play horse out of the Artsplace mare Advantest, Arthur Blue Chip is owned by trainer Dr. Ian Moore along with R. G. McGroup, and Serge Savard. He paid $3.50.

 

Jenkins Creek was also a wire-to-wire winner in the $7,500 Preferred 3 Pace, besting 8-5 favourite Joshua My Boy in a 1:52.2 mile. Im A Gift came from second over to finish third.

 

Jenkins Creek, a six-year-old Cams Card Shark gelding out of the Western Hanover mare Fashion Virtue, is owned by Rolling Hills Racing Stables, trained by Corey Johnson, and driven by Travis Henry. He paid $13.70.

 

The second preliminary of the Alliance Claiming Series for fillies and mares was held on Sunday night as well, with Casimir Pardon Me ($9.10) and Missus Big ($6.60) taking the two divisions. Both winners were guided by driver Bob McClure, who brought home five winners on the Georgian card just two nights after winning five races at Grand River. McClure's other Sunday night scores came aboard P L Jackson ($2.60), Lively Freddie ($2.90), and Stir And Serve ($3.10).

 

Tyler Jones picked up his first pari-mutuel driving victory in the fourth race with Day Trade Hanover, also notching his maiden-breaking victory. Jones guided the three-year-old son of Big Jim to a handy 1:53.4 score for trainer Dustin Jones (Tyler's father), who co-owns with Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. of Hudson, Que.