Balmoral Park (11/8/12)
Contact: Tom Kelley
(708) 672-1414
CHAPTER SEVEN LOOKS TO END CAREER AS NUMBER ONE
Looking to trot off into the sunset, or at least the breeding shed, Richard Gutnick Southwind Farm and J&T Silva Stables Chapter Seven, the probable 2012 Horse of the Year, will look to end his career on a winning note when he squares off against five other older trotters in Saturday’s $180,000 American National Aged Trot.
A winner in seven of his nine starts this season, Chapter Seven’s stud career will be managed by Southwind Farms in New Jersey but he will stand stud at Blue Chip Farms in New York.
"I've got mixed emotions," said Gutnick, who also owns 2012 Hambletonian winner Market Share. "I really wanted him to race another year, but the fact that I have both Chapter Seven and Market Share made the decision tougher because I don't want them to race against one another."
Currently ranked as the number one horse in all of North America in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown poll, the Linda Toscano trainee enters his final race with a record of 19 victories, four seconds and one third in 27 lifetime starts with earnings of almost $1.9 million. The two-time Breeders Crown champion also holds a special place in his conditioner’s heart.
“Obviously, I am going to miss him,” Toscano said. “He was a career changing horse for me, a very special horse and he crept into my heart because of the things he overcame. You just can’t replace a horse like that.”
His latest win in the Breeders Crown Open trot was simply amazing as he found himself on the outside every step of the mile yet still managed to prevail by 1 ¼ lengths in 1:52.3 over a track that was rated as “good.” That win made him the first male horse to win a Breeders Crown championship as a three-year-old and as a four-year-old since the great Pine Chip pulled off the feat back in 1993-94. Only two others, Mack Lobell 1987-88 and Sugarcane Hanover 1986-87, have accomplished the back-to-back scores.
The incredible victory amazed Toscano who has seen plenty of big victories from her three-year-old sensation Market Share and Chapter Seven this season.
“I couldn’t have dreamed this big,” she said. “Without question he’s the best horse I’ve ever had. I had no idea he could wind up parked the mile and still have a chance to win a Breeders Crown. As long as he’s got a target to aim for he never stops until he gets past them.”
His victories this season include the Nat Ray Invitational at the Meadowlands, where he won in 1:50.1 to equal the fastest mile ever trotted on a mile track. In his most recent outing, Oct. 7 at Lexington’s Red Mile, Chapter Seven won the $131,200 Allerage Farms Trot by two lengths over Mister Herbie in 1:50.2. He also won the Titan Cup and Titan Cup prep with 1:50.4 miles.
Chapter Seven’s four sub-1:51 winning miles is a record for trotters.
American National Aged Trot winners
| Year |
Horse |
(Driver) |
Time |
| 1985 |
Sandy Bowl |
(Neal Shapiro) |
1:59.1
|
| 1986 |
Master Willie |
(Jan Nordin) |
**TDIS
|
| 1987 |
Express Ride |
(Berndt Lindstedt) |
1:55
|
| 1988 |
Ouchy |
(Fred Finn, Jr.) |
1:58.2
|
| 1989 |
-Not Raced- |
|
|
| 1990 |
Kit Lobell |
(Berndt Lindstedt) |
1:58.4
|
| |
Peach Pit |
(John Campbell) |
1:58.3
|
| 1991 |
Four De (Dave Magee) |
1:58.3
|
|
| |
Peach Pit |
(Bill Wellwood) |
1:59.2
|
| 1992 |
Night Court Dan |
(Art Mcllmurray) |
1:56
|
| 1993 |
Earl |
(Chris Christoforou, Jr.) |
1:58
|
| 1994 |
S J’s Photo |
(Dave Wade) |
1:55.3
|
| 1995 |
S J’s Photo |
(Dave Wade) |
1:55
|
| 1996 |
B Cor Pete |
(Howard Parker) |
1:54.4
|
| 1997 |
Impeccable Image |
(Tony Morgan) |
1:55.2
|
| 1998 |
Georgia Limited |
(Andy Miller) |
1:56.2
|
| 1999 |
Moni Maker |
(Wally Hennessey) |
1:53.4
|
| 2000 |
Magician |
(Dave Miller) |
1:53
|
| 2001 |
Magician |
(Dave Miller) |
1:53.3
|
| 2002 |
Plesac |
(Tim Tetrick) |
1:53.1
|
| 2003 |
Rotation |
(Trevor Richie) |
1:53.1
|
| 2004 |
Mr Muscleman |
(John Campbell) |
1:53.1
|
| 2005 |
Peaceful Way |
(Trevor Richie) |
1:53.3
|
| 2006 |
Sand Vic |
(George Brennan) |
R 1:51.4
|
| 2007 |
Corleone Kosmos |
(John Campbell) |
1:53.1
|
| 2008 |
Enough Talk |
(Ron Pierce) |
1:52
|
| 2009 |
Lanson |
(Michael LaChance) |
1:53.4
|
| 2010 |
Buck I St Pat |
(Tim Tetrick) |
1:55
|
| 2011 |
Looking Hanover |
(Yannick Gingras) |
1:56
|
|
|
|
|
|
R=Designates Stakes Record Time
*Raced at Sportsman’s Park, 1959 through 1997; and at Balmoral Park 1998 to present.
**Time Disallowed
For more information visit www.balmoralpark.com or call (708) 672-1414.
About Balmoral Park: Located in Crete, IL just 12 miles south of 80/94; Balmoral Park has been one of the nation's premier horse racing facilities since 1926. Balmoral Park features live racing every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Admission and parking is always free.
