Harness racing’s top-rated pacer, three-year-old colt Well Said, will try to rebound from a third-place finish in the Delvin Miller Adios when he meets seven rivals in Sunday’s $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine
at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack.
Well Said won the $1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, and set the track record at The Meadows in his Adios elimination race before falling to Vintage Master in the $677,665 Adios final on August 1.
Well Said, who trails only trotters Muscle Hill and Lucky Jim in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown weekly Top 10 poll, has won six of eight races this season and earned $1.4 million. He is trained by Steve Elliott, driven by Ron Pierce, and owned by Jeff Snyder and Lothlorien.
“We just went to the well one too many times there,” said Pierce, who on August 8 got the 7,000th driving win of his career. “But for that kind of money, it’s hard not to. I’m sure with the extra week off it will help him. He had a good excuse. I know he’s the best colt out there. I’m sure if he wasn’t sharp and on his toes, Stevie wouldn’t take him (to Chester).”
Well Said will see familiar faces at Chester, including Vintage Master and Adios runner-up Mr Wiggles.
Vintage Master has won just two of 25 career races, but he has hit the board 17 times and earned $915,048. Prior to winning the Adios, the colt was second in the Meadowlands Pace, second in the $500,000 New Jersey Classic, and second at ages two and three in the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship.
“I said a month ago that one of these days (Vintage Master) was going to win one of these big ones,” trainer Jimmy Takter said. “The caliber of races he’s been in, those are tough to win.”
Brittany Farms and the estate of Brian Monieson own Vintage Master, who has been driven in his last 10 races by Dan Dube.
Mr Wiggles has won seven of 13 races this year and earned $707,137. His top victory came in the $500,000 Hoosier Cup on May 30 at Hoosier Park. He is trained by George Teague, Jr., who co-owns the colt with Elmer Fannin. Corey Callahan is the driver. Teague and Fannin also have Chasin Racin and Johnny Z in the Battle of the Brandywine.
$500,000 Battle of the Brandywine
1 Johnny Z
2. Chasin Racin
3. Fireintheshark
4. Mr Wiggles
5. Well Said,
6. Hypnotic Blue Chip
7. Drop Red,
8. Vintage Master
(Harness Racing Communications)