A Horse Of Destiny?

"This horse is amazing in how he overcomes everything. I hope that means he’s a horse of destiny, but I guess only time will tell. I love having horses that only want to win."

Richard Gutnick hopes Chapter Seven pays off. Chapter Seven on Tuesday was one of eighteen three-year-old trotters entered in the Hambletonian --- harness racing’s top trotting prize --- at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Two $70,000 nine-horse elimination races will be contested Saturday, with the top five finishers from each division returning on August 6 for the $1.5 million nationally televised final.

“I’m excited and nervous,” said Gutnick, who is the CFO of a medical supply company in the Philadelphia suburbs and one of Chapter Seven’s owners. “I’ve been in the business for 28 years and this is the first time I’ve had one good enough. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.”

Chapter Seven, trained by Linda Toscano and driven by four-time Hambletonian winner Mike Lachance, will start from Post 6 in his elimination. The elim includes Blue Porsche, who won this year’s Goodtimes Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack and last year’s Valley Victory Stakes.

The other elim will feature two-year-old divisional champion Pastor Stephen and last year’s Breeders Crown winner Manofmanymissions.

Chapter Seven, in addition to Gutnick, is owned by Gary Cocco (his first horse), Southwind Farm and Jerry Silva.

Last year, the colt won seven of eight races, including the Matron Stakes at Dover Downs and the New Jersey Sire Stakes fall championship at Freehold Raceway. He earned $211,549.

Slowed by pneumonia earlier this year, Chapter Seven has raced only once, winning a $166,000 division of the Stanley Dancer Memorial on July 16 at the Meadowlands. He won by a head over Big Rigs in 1:53.1.

“He’s a game horse,” Gutnick said. “He had every reason his first time out in the Dancer not to win. But the horse wants to win.

“Right now, he’s fine. We gave him the past week off. We went back and forth, but Linda’s gut instinct, and my gut instinct, was to give him the week off because he’s had to catch up. The week off, I think, did him wonders. I saw him Saturday and he looked much better than he even did for the Dancer. I’m looking very forward to the eliminations and hopefully to the final.”

After getting involved in racing as an owner in the mid-1980s, Gutnick got licenses to drive and train horses, and even picked up a training win at the Meadowlands, because he wanted to learn more about the sport.

“I know enough to be dangerous, so I give my input to the trainer,” Gutnick said. “But I know they’re working with the horse day in and day out, so the final decision is theirs.”

Chapter Seven’s ability to overcome obstacles is nothing new. A son of Windsongs Legacy--La Riviera Lindy, he was purchased for $42,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale (under the name Windsongs Proxy) and his family includes stakes-winner Sir Taurus.

His career got off to a tough start. First, he required stitches in an ankle after jumping a fence (“At least we know he’s athletic,” Toscano told Gutnick) and he later needed surgery to correct throat troubles. After paying the medical bills, Gutnick, a former bankruptcy trustee for the state of Delaware, told his wife he was going to rename the horse Chapter Seven. When she laughed heartily, he decided to use the name.

“This horse is amazing in how he overcomes everything,” Gutnick said. “I hope that means he’s a horse of destiny, but I guess only time will tell. I love having horses that only want to win. I believe he has as much talent as anybody out there.”

This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit ustrotting.com.

1-Chapter Seven – Gutsy son of Windsongs Legacy seems like a colt of destiny, has overcome his share of adversity including recent pneumonia, it took a :27.3 final quarter to gun down Big Rigs in the Dancer, and that was only his first start of the season. 'Iron Mike' has four and it might be his year again.

2-Manofmanymissions – Remains a shoeing puzzle, yet Erv Miller sounded confident the Breeders Crown World Record setter was going in the right direction after his 1:52.1 romp in the Dancer, while still not going smooth, Andy Miller said he did it easy and he’s on his game, draws a demanding post in a very intriguing elimination.

3-Blue Porsche – Although his dominant win in the Goodtimes was impressive enough, now we have to somehow gauge him after recent reports of sickness, plus he benefits from a new NJRC rule that extended the 30 days out rule to 45, so 42 days after the Goodtimes he will make his Big M debut from Post 9 for proven Hambletonian winning connections, we’ll find out if he is that good.

4-Big Rigs – Draws well off a strong acclimating mile and it took a big final quarter by Chapter Seven to beat him in the Dancer. Kelly O’Donnell said he has a sound colt that can race either way.

5-Broad Bahn – Hasn’t missed the board in six starts this season, all against top stock, left in the wake of Manofmanymissions two weeks ago. 'The Minister' can put him in play despite Post 8.

6-Whit – When they finally bared down with him he won with trot at both ends, a :27.2 kicker and 1:52.4 career best, while beating a weak NJSS field. The 'Bionic Man' will have his share of choices.

7-Big Sky Storm – 0 for 9 this season, but improved enough recently to merit a shot for Chris Marino, followed up a third in the Dancer by a narrow lost in NJSS. He moves inside and switches to Ron Pierce.

8-Whiskey Tax – Credit Tom Durand with not wanting to risk racing him in the record heat last Friday. This steady son of Revenue S owns a big kick and plenty of upside. He has drawn the rail after a 28-day layoff.

9-Bambino Hall – After starting out strong this season, his latest string poor showings were mostly bad racing luck, yet a barn change to trotting specialist Tyler Raymer could spell some sort of wake up.

10-Pastor Stephen – Tried speed from Post 8 and looked uncomfortable while backing up in the Dancer. Last year’s winning team of Pierce and Takter have to figure out a way to get this classy colt to rebound from an improved post in a wide-open elim.

(Meadowlands)