The Chancellor, which has been second-best to Hambletonian winner Muscle Hill in three of five meetings, will make its next start in the $100,000 Charles I. Smith Trot on Friday, September 11 at Freehold Raceway.
The Charles Smith for New Jersey-sired three-year-old trotters is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey. With only seven entrants, no eliminations were necessary on September 4.
The Chancellor, a son of Yankee Glide, has two wins, six seconds and one third from 14 career starts. The bay colt, driven by Andy Miller and trained by Julie Miller, has finished second to Horse of the Year favourite Muscle Hill in a trio of New Jersey Sire Stakes events, including the $200,000 championship on June 13 at the Meadowlands.
In the elims for the Hambletonian, The Chancellor was third to Muscle Hill and finished fourth in the final.
At two, The Chancellor won the $85,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes final at Freehold in 1:57.3. It lowered its mark to 1:54.1 at the Meadowlands on July 15.
Andy and Julie Miller also teamed to win the 2008 edition of the Charles Smith with Spam Spade.
The other six entrants this year are Berkshire, driven by Jim Marshall III for trainer Doug Miller; Homer Jay, trained and driven by Ray Schnittker; a pair of Anette Lorentzon trainees, Howthehaloareyou, with Yannick Gingras scheduled to drive, and Vesuvio AS with Tim Tetrick in the sulky; Mystro Hanover, which is trained and driven by Trond Smedshammer; and Nice Dream from the barn of Les Givens with Jim Morand at the lines.
Trainer Trond Smedshammer has won the 'Smith' twice before with sons of Muscles Yankee – in 2003 with Center Field and in 2005 with Strong Yankee.
The Charles Smith stakes record of 1:57 was set by Princetonian in 2007.
(With files from the NJSBOA)