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Tuesday, September 23, 2014

BROKEN RECORD TO BID FOR THREE STRAIGHT IN HAROLD DANCER TROT

By Carol Hodes for the SBOANJ

MANALAPAN, NJ – September 23, 2014 – Broken Record, who dominated in his last two starts in the Green Acres Series, bids to extend his winning streak to three in the $40,000 Harold Dance Trot on Thursday, September 25, 2014 at Freehold Raceway.

Trainer Ray Schnittker, who has three entered in the five-horse final, will turn the lines over to Jason Bartlett.  The non-wagering race is scheduled for 12:10 p.m.  The Harold Dancer is restricted to New Jersey-sired two-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

One of four sons of Muscles Yankee in the Harold Dancer Trot, Broken Record won the $25,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes – Green Acres Final on September 18 at Freehold, matching his career best of 2:00.1, which he posted two weeks earlier in the second leg of the Green Acres in a 27 1/2 –length victory.

Broken Record has now collected four wins, a second and three thirds from nine starts, banking $59,513 for co-owners Schnittiker and Ted Gewertz of New York City.  He is out of the prolific broodmare Miss Garland, making him a half-brother to multi-millionaire Vivid Photo.

The Harold Dancer is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

The $40,000 Harold Dancer field with sire, driver and trainer:
1-SS Poseidon-Muscle Hill-Steve Smith-Erv Miller
2-Cruizinwithmuscles-Muscles Yankee-Jim Marshall III-Ray Schnittiker
3-Switchblade Hall-Muscles Yankee-Jordan Stratton-Ray Schnittker
4-Firestop-Muscles Yankee-Eric Abbatiello-Julie Miller
5-Broken Record-Muscles Yankee-Jason Bartlett-Ray Schnittker

Freehold Raceway has hosted the Harold Dancer, which was previously contested at Garden State Park and the Meadowlands, since 2001.  The stakes record at Freehold of 1:59 flat was set by Chapter Seven in 2010.

The $7,000 second leg of the New Jersey Sire Stakes-Green Acres for three-year-old pacing fillies will be the second of two non-wagering races on the card.  The three entrants are Cut A Deal, Fanticipation and Ideal Helen.