MANALAPAN,
NJ – October 9, 2013 – 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, 2013 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 favorite 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 from the rail out, with sire, driver, trainer and morning line
odds: Celebrity Spitfire, Muscles Yankee, Tom Jackson, Susanne
Strandqvist, 6-1; Hot Type, Chocolatier, DR Ackerman, DR Ackerman, 5-1;
Chocolate Day, Chocolatier, Marcus Johansson, Julie Miller, 2-1; Choco Sun,
Chocolatier, Jim Meittinis, Orjan Torstensson, 3-1; Body Talk, Muscles Yankee,
Rick Zeron, Rick Zeron, 4-1 and Clavicle Hanover, Muscles Yankee, Vincent
Ginsburg, Ned Urbanski, 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, Ontario.
The
field, from the rail out, with sire, driver, trainer: Muscle On In,
Muscle Hill, Daniel Dube, Chris Ryder; Skates N Plates, Revenue, Jim Marshall
III, Paul Reid; Angels Ransom, Revenue, Roland Mallar, Roland Mallar; Yoga,
Muscles Yankee, Jimmy Takter, Jimmy Takter and Valbrunella, Muscles Yankee,
Rick Zeron, Rick Zeron.
There
are three fillies in the Futurity -- Body Talk, Yoga and Valbrunella.
-Submitted
by Carol Hodes for SBOANJ
