Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Dancer & Miller Fields Now Set

July 8, 2006

Three $35,000 elimination races for the $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial for three-year-old trotting colts were contested as non-betting events at 5 pm, EST Saturday night at The Meadowlands.

Here Comes Herbie took the first $35,000 Dancer Memorial elim in 1:53.2 for trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer, winning by one and a half lengths over Capetown Hall (David Miller), with Ira K (Yannick Gingars) third. Johnny Muscles was fourth (Jan Johnson), and earned his way into the final by virtue of being the fastest fourth-place finisher (1:54.2).

"I got him in January of this year and was in good shape, and he has been cruising all along,” said Smedshammer. “I put him on the front end in Canada. Now he was racing from behind. I think he’s a little better coming off the pace. It was a good effort today.”

In the second $35,000 Dancer elimination trainer-driver Trond Smedshammer guided Mr Pine Chip to victory in 1:54.3, winning by three lengths over Race Fan (Steve Smith) with Global Glide (Ron Pierce) in third.

“Looking on paper, there wasn’t much early speed so I decided to go forward with him,” Smedshammer said of Mr Pine Chip. “This horse has been a dead closer, but I put him on the front end last start at Pocono. He was a little inexperienced there but was better today. He’s getting better, more racy. He’s a tremendous horse. He has manners, speed; he’s got it all.”

In the third $35,000 Dancer elim Chocolatier scored easily for driver DR Ackerman in 1:53.1, a personal best. Blue Mac lad was second with Brian Sears at the lines, while MacDeen Star (John Campbell) nailed third.

“He’s always been a kind horse to be around and drive,” said Doug R. Ackerman, who has piloted Chocolatier in all 10 of his career victories. “We got started up going to the lead, so I let him flow along, let him have what he wanted. I had him held safe. It was a good race to the wire with Blue Mac Lad.”

Two $25,000 elimination races for the $375,000 Delvin Miller Memorial for three-year-old trotting fillies also took place. The first five finishers from each elim compete in the final.

Winning the first $25,000 Miller elim was Passionate Glide in 1:54.2 for Ron Pierce. Last year's divisional champion is quickly closing in on $800,000 in earnings. Finishing second was Emantee (Brian Sears) with Workout Doll (John Campbell) third, Mai Tai (George Brennan) fourth and KD Girl (Jeff Gregory) fifth.

“I just kind of floated her out to the two-hole,” said Ron Pierce, driver of Passionate Glide. “Dave [Miller with Wherley] wasn’t going much so we went to the top at the quarter. Brian [Sears with Emantee] took a good run at us at the five eighths. I chased her a little bit, and she just floated home. She’s beautiful to drive, has a beautiful gait. You can’t help but just love her. She did it really easily.”

In the second Miller elimination Queen Serene and driver-trainer Trond Smedshammer won in 1:54--a career best mile for the New Jersey Sires Stakes runner-up. Miss Wisconsin (Mike Lachance) was second with Susie's Magic (David Miller) third. Miss Elenora (John Campbell) was fourth and Zeta Jones (Tyler Stillings) fifth.

“This filly is big and rugged and getting better with each start,” Smedshammer noted. “I will say she wasn’t herself [finishing second in the New Jersey Sire Stakes Final]. Today she felt a lot better. Hopefully, she’ll be good next week. She got very lazy, felt like we were walking the last eighth and still trotted in 1:54. This is a very capable filly.”

The elim winners had their choice of post position. In the Dancer Mr Pine Chip will leave from post two, Chocolatier from post one and Here Comes Herbie from post three. In the Miller Queen Serene from post two and Passionate Glide from post three.