Chapter Seven easily overpowered the pacesetter Winning Mister to take the $40,000 Titan Cup Prep in world record fashion on Saturday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack.
Chapter Seven’s 1:50.4 clocking, which included a final panel of :26 seconds, was an all-time best for a four-year-old trotting horse over any size track. (Lucky Jim holds the 1:50.1 record for four-year-old geldings set in 2009).
Chapter Seven was steered to victory in his 2012 debut by Tim Tetrick. Winning Mister was a length behind in second, while Arch Madness finished third in his first appearance since being the runner-up in Sweden’s Elitlopp on May 27. The Titan Cup Prep contenders will return for the $201,700 final on Friday, June 29.
Chapter Seven, trained by Linda Toscano, won five of 10 starts last season, including a commanding victory in the Breeders Crown at Woodbine Racetrack. The son of Windsongs Legacy was fourth in the 2011 Hambletonian.
Owned by Richard Gutnick of Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, Gary Cocco of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania, Southwind Farm of Pennington, New Jersey, and Jerry and Theresa Silva of Long Beach, New York, Chapter Seven now sports 13 wins in 19 career starts, and earnings of $952,333.
“I believe in this horse," Toscano noted. “He’s incredibly talented. He’s healthy and we have to keep in mind he’ll be facing some seasoned veterans. Horses don’t do what he’s done to come back as strong he has.”
Also on the card, favourite Intheblinkofaneye won the $30,000 King Of The Fifteens Final for driver Andy Miller and trainer Julie Miller in a career-best matching mark of 1:51.1.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Meadowlands Racetrack.
(With files from Meadowlands Racetrack)
If Chapter Seven doesn't trot
If Chapter Seven doesn't trot several sub 1:50 miles this year i will be very surprised. He wasn't even asked in this race and he won for fun. He will be a force to be reckoned with this year in the age trot division.