Monday, June 23, 2008

ROAD TRIP PAYS OFF FOR TIN CUP CHALICE IN MIKE LEE

Tin Cup Chalice, making his first start outside of Finger Lakes, lead at all calls Sunday afternoon and won the 20th running of the $109,700 Mike Lee for New York-bred three-year-olds at seven furlongs at Belmont Park by a length and a half over even-money favorite Groomedforvictory.

A gelded son of Crusader Sword, Tin Cup Chalice is now unbeaten in five starts, and the Mike Lee was, by far, his most impressive victory. Not only was it his first time on a new track, but it was also the first time he raced beyond six furlongs.

Neither these new challenges, nor the crowd of 6,129, did not seem to bother him.


With jockey Pedro Rodriguez also making the trip downstate, Tin Cup Chalice kept at least a length advantage over Be Bullish as he set splits of 22.99, 46.52 and 1:11.39.

In the lane, new challenges came from Groomedforvictory and Megapixel, but neither could get to the winner, who came home in 1:24.12 on the fast main track.

Tin Cup Chalice, who paid $11 to win, carried 121 pounds, getting a two-pound break from both Groomedforvictory and Be Bullish.

With the Mike Lee put away, Tin Cup Chalice will now eye the $150,000-added New York Derby at a mile and a sixteenth at Finger Lakes on July 12 and Saratoga’s $150,000-added Albany Handicap at nine furlongs on August 20. All three make up the OTB’s Big Apple Triple, and if he can win all three races, he will receive a $250,000 bonus from the New York State Breeding & Racing Program.

That’srightofficer was fourth and it was far back to Peperoni, Be Bullish, Motor Patrol and Half Moon Street.

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