Gallo Blue Chip lived up to name

He didn't win the Little Brown Jug, Windy City Pace or HoosierCup. And he hasn't broken 1:50. But why quibble? That's about allGallo Blue Chip didn't do during a sophomore year that will go downas one of the greatest in harness history.

With $2,319,066 and counting in his 2000 cache, the Chip is thesport's all-time single-season money earner. He won two million-dollar races-the North America Cup and Meadowlands Pace-and romped inthe Breeders Crown by 7 3/4 lengths. He set a world record on a five-eighths-mile track with his 1:50 at Scioto Downs in Ohio. All butunknown at the start of his 3-year-old campaign, he took on allcomers within his division and made them look like pretenders.

Last week, I ran down my choices for divisional honors among theaged pacers and trotters, as well as Horse of the Year. Here are myselections among 2- and 3-year-olds, which can only lead off with theChip:

3-year-old male pacer: My Horse-of-the-Year support for aged titanWestern Ideal almost certainly will be a minority opinion. Gallo BlueChip's year isn't through yet. After beating Camotion last week in atune-up at Mohawk, reversing their Windy City finish, he is headinginto eliminations Sunday for the $350,000 Provincial Cup at Windsor.Harness racing should give thanks that the Chip is a gelding andcan't breed. If he can step up successfully to the aged ranks, hecould become the most popular harness horse since Rambling Willie.Jug winner Astreos had a good year (why is he heading to stud?), butconsistently was trumped by his rival. Hamel's choice: Gallo BlueChip.

3-year-old female pacer: Fan Hanover and Jugette winner EternalCamnation looked like a lock until she failed to make the BreedersCrown final. That's opened the door for Popcorn Penny, who joinedRons Girl as a Crown champion for the Joe Anderson-John Leahypartnership. It could be a case of she who laughs last, laughs best.Hamel's choice: Popcorn Penny.

3-year-old male trotter: Despite valid criticism that he failed towin a multiheat event or a race on a half-mile track, Hambletonianwinner Yankee Paco was a Trotter of the Year contender until he brokestride in a Breeders Crown elimination. A victory in the Crownprobably would have vaulted Credit Winner to the top spot in thedivision, but he finished second. Bottom line: Credit Winner wasrunner-up too often to be No. 1. Hamel's choice: Yankee Paco.

3-year-old filly trotter: Who knows? Casual Breeze was ranked inthe top 10 for a while, undeservedly, and dropped once she steppedout of Ontario. No filly could claim two major stakes, but Aviano wonthe Breeders Crown and was runner-up in the Hambletonian Oaks andAmerican National. When in doubt, go with the Breeders Crownchampion. Hamel's choice: Aviano.

2-year-old male pacer: The juvenile races generally go down to thewire and Bettors Delight saved his best for last. He beat world-record holder Real Desire in the Breeders Crown and Governor's Cup(Chicago's Eric Ledford driving him in the latter). Hamel's choice:Bettors Delight.

2-year-old filly pacer: Look for a split vote among Dex The Balls,Lady Macbeach, Electrical Art and perhaps even Gothic Lady. LadyMacbeach's Breeders Crown score could speak loudest. Hamel's choice:Lady Macbeach.

2-year-old male trotter: The best juvenile trotters have beenfillies, so the winner here should be "none." The better colts fromearly and midseason didn't last until the end. Breeders Crown winnerBanker Hall didn't travel much. Chasing Tail won the Valley Victory.Don't be surprised if the best 3-year-old in 2001 is ExperienceVictory, the lightly raced three-quarter brother to Self Possessed.Hamel's reluctant choice: Banker Hall.

2-year-old filly trotter: Spellbound Hanover was wonderful early,but Syrinx Hanover got hot late. An $8,500 yearling purchase, SyrinxHanover followed her Breeders Crown score with an easy victory in theGoldsmith Maid. Hamel's choice: Syrinx Hanover.

PEACE OFFERING? Relations between the Johnston family thatcontrols the Chicago area's two tracks, and the horsemen's collective-bargaining agent, the Illinois Harness Horsemen's Association, havebeen frosty for generations, but seem to be thawing.

A telling sign of that easing of tension was the IHHA honoringMaywood president Duke Johnston as its 2000 Man of the Year.

Johnston, 41, was cited by the horsemen's group particularly forhis work in drug testing and integrity, improving the quality of lifefor backstretch workers and launching innovative promotions.

"Duke has been very cooperative," said IHHA president Tony Morgan."Balmoral has done a good job with relations with the horsemen; ithas been even better (at Maywood)."

He will be honored during the group's Dec. 10 awards dinner atBalmoral.

THREE A CHARM: Taser Gun might not have been able to break throughin open-company stakes as a 5-year-old and wasn't able to win thestate-bred Egyptian pace for a third consecutive year. But even inlosing, he remained a consistent money-earner.

The pride of Downstate Medora claimed a $20,000 bonus that goes tothe top point-scorer in the Maywood Pacing Series even though he hadto settle for second behind 22-1 long shot HR Sosa (1:52 1/4), a 3-year-old, in the $40,000 Egyptian last week at Maywood Park.

It marked the third year in a row that Taser Gun, reportedlybothered by a lacerated right hoof, had collared the series bonus. Heended his campaign with 13 wins in 23 starts and a bankroll of morethan $252,000.