IPO Blue Chip became the third trotter to circle the Bangor Raceway oval in 1:57.3 in its storied history. Assigned the outside six post, the five year old mare cut all the fractions of :28.4, 59.3, and 1:28.2 with Shawn Thayer in the sulky.

Victory Tax was the fastest off the gate with Drew Campbell but gave up the lead to IPO Blue Chip halfway down the backstretch headed towards the quarter pole. The betting favorite held off a mild challenge from Folk Tail after the half and another challenge from Victory Tax in the stretch, but neither horse ever got pass the sulky wheel of the leader.

IPO Blue Chip has now won seven of eight starts in Maine this season for trainer Randy Bickmore, including a divisional track record at Scarborough Downs two weeks ago in 1:57.4.

Kevin Gee, the mare’s owner is excited for next week’s invitational at Scarborough Downs on Belmont Day. “She’s an awesome mare, Shawn said she had more in the tank. I hope to challenge the state record with her.” The state trotting record is held by Pembroke Spice in 1:57.2, set in 2010 at the Northern Maine Fair.

Bangor’s all age track record is now held by three classy trotters. Kerogen was the first in 2009 and Seaside repeated the feat in the fall of 2010. IPO Blue Chip now takes the aged mare record from Pembroke Spice who trotted 1:57.4 in 2010.

Bangor’s WABI-TV was on site and can be seen by following this link.