Zippy raced once in 1999 and twice last year, with all three races coming at the Northampton Fair in Massachusetts. In a five-furlong sprint at Northampton on Sept. 1, Zippy led all the way before being caught in the last stride by Black Rifle. The New York-bred has managed to finish second on seven occasions and has also posted 12 third-place finishes.
Zippy Chippy, owner-trainer Felix Monserrate's 10-year-old who is winless in 88 career starts, has been installed at 8-1 morning-line odds in his return Friday at Penn National Racecourse. The hapless horse is one of seven horses entered in the first race on the track's nine-race program that gets underway at 7:20 p.m. (EST)."I don't think Zippy Chippy is an 8-1 prospect in this race but the fans sometimes get caught up in the mystique and bet with their heart on horses like him" said Penn National morning line oddsmaker John Bogar. "He figures to go off a lower price than his record would warrant."Among those Zippy will face is Sunshine Hill Farm's Bidakeno, tabbed the 8-5 favorite. The four-year old who will also be making his 2001 debut finished fourth in a $50,000 maiden race at Belmont Park in his last start of 2000.
