Chocolate Day and Choco Sun, both by Chocolatier, are the top contenders in a $14,500 division of the New Jersey Futurity for two-year-old trotters on Thursday, October 10 at Freehold Raceway.
The two will face four others in the third race, while Harold Dancer winner Muscle On In takes on four others in a $14,000 division that will be contested prior to the betting card.
The New Jersey Futurity is restricted to New Jersey-sired trotters and is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.
Chocolate Day, driven by Marcus Johansson and trained by Julie Miller, has been installed as the 2-1 morning line favourite, while Choco Sun, with Jim Meittinis driving for trainer Orjan Torstensson, is the 3-1 second choice. Both uncharacteristically broke stride in the $66,500 Harold Dancer Final on September 27 at Freehold.
Prior to the Dancer, Chocolate Day defeated Choco Sun by a nose in the $25,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres Final.
Chocolate Day has three wins, six seconds and one third in 13 starts and earnings of $43,555 for the Andy Miller Stable of Millstone, NJ and Arden Homestead Stable of Delhi, NY.
Choco Sun, owned by Norwegian Eirik Djure, has two wins and two seconds from six starts for a bankroll of $24,885.
The field appears below.
1 - Celebrity Spitfire - Tom Jackson - 6-1
2 - Hot Type - DR. Ackerman - 5-1
3 - Chocolate Day - Marcus Johansson - 2-1
4 - Choco Sun - Jim Meittinis - 3-1
5 - Body Talk - Rick Zeron - 4-1
6 - Clavicle Hanover - Vincent Ginsburg - 8-1
Harold Dancer winner Muscle On It, who has three victories in nine tries, drew the rail in the non-wagering division. Daniel Dube will drive the son of Muscle Hill for trainer Chris Ryder.
Muscle On In has earned $52,665 for co-owner Ryder and his partners Robert Mondillo of Delaware, OH and Max Wernick of New City, NY.
The competition includes Yoga, a daughter of Muscles Yankee, who has four wins in five starts, including three divisions of the Kindergarten Series and a division of the Historic Stakes. Jimmy Takter trains and drives Yoga, who races in the name of Christina Takter of East Windsor, NJ and brothers John and Jim Fielding of Toronto, Ont.
The field appears below.
1 - Muscle On In - Daniel Dube
2 - Skates N Plates - Jim Marshall III
3 - Angels Ransom - Roland Mallar
4 - Yoga - Jimmy Takter
5 - Valbrunella - Rick Zeron.
There are three fillies in the Futurity – Body Talk, Yoga and Valbrunella.
(SBOANJ)