Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Chocolatier Sweet in 1:53.2 Mile Thursday

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Chocolatier, the Dan Patch Two-Year-Old Trotting Colt of the Year in 2005, turned in a sparkling effort in a $20,000 non-wagering trot for three-year-olds, covering the mile in a lifetime best of 1:53.2 Thursday night at the Meadowlands.

The son of Credit Winner–-Maple Frosting, had broken stride in his season’s debut in the elims for the Goodtimes at Woodbine and finished second in the Goodtimes Consolation. But with this effort, he put himself back on the road to the $1.5 million Hambletonian on August 5 at the Meadowlands.

“He was perfect tonight; couldn’t have been better,” said D. R. Ackerman, the colt’s driver. “Compared to last year, he got a little taller and rounded off a little more. We had to make a few more adjustments, equipment-wise. We had to put a head pole on him to straighten him out. He got a little crooked last year. We straightened him up and tonight he couldn’t have been any better.”

Chocolatier, who raced on the outside from the half on, put away Capetown Hall for a two and a half-length tally with a 28-second final quarter. Boardwalk Hall was two and three-quarter lengths back in third.

“He’s going to stay at the Meadowlands and race in the Stanley Dancer next week and then, hopefully, in the Hambletonian,” Ackerman said of Chocolatier. “So far, so good.”

Owned by the Doug Ackerman Stables Inc. of Warren, Michigan; Southwind Farm of Pennington, New Jersey and Lindy Lane Farms of Enfield, Connecticut, Chocolatier won eight of 10 starts at two and now has one win in three starts this year. His lifetime bankroll is now $529,500.

Freshman Shine at The Big M Thursday
Freshmen were all the rage in the early races this evening at The Meadowlands. Donato Hanover and driver Ron Pierce captured the first of two $55,675 EH Harriman Cups in 1:57.2, besting rivals Strive for Perfect (Ray Remmen) second and Lancelot Trotsalot (Jeff Gregory) third. Donato Hanover is a son of Andover Hall, out of the Donerail mare D Train. He is trained by Steve Elliott for David Scharf, Gold Touch Stable and Steve Arnold of New York &
New Jersey.

In the second Harriman Cup, which sported a purse of 56,325, Peyton Way and driver-trainer Jimmy Takter powered to victory in the final strides to win in 1:59.3, besting the pace-setting Rushmore Hanover (Ray Remmen) who had led for most of the mile. New Hampshire Boy (Ray Schnittker) was third.

In the first $53,500 Goshen Cup for freshman pacers, What's Up Now (Ron Pierce) stormed to a new stake record clocking of 1:52.1. Stablemate Mattdultery (Yannick Gingras) was a close second with Wearable Art (John Campbell) third. The previous record of 1:52.2 had been set in 2005 by Western Ace, with Ron Pierce driving as well, and George Teague, Jr doing the training, as he did with this year's winner.

The second Goshen Cup was captured by the Artiscape freshman Artzina and driver John Campbell in 1:53.2. Artzina powered by the leading Twin Character (Brian Sears--second) and TJ's Ideal (George Brennan--third) to nab down his first career victory for trainer Dylan Davis. The youngster is owned by Kal Liebowitz & Marc Rubach of New York & New Jersey.