by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — Chocolate Day and Muscle On In turned in winning performances in New Jersey Futurities for 2-year-old trotters on Thursday (Oct. 10) at Freehold Raceway.

In the third race, Chocolate Day battled Choco Sun, prevailing for a 1-1/2 length victory in the $14,500 division. It was 3-1/2 lengths to Hot Type in third. All three are sons of Chocolatier.

Chocolate Day ($3.40), driven by Marcus Johansson and trained by Julie Miller, trotted the mile in 2:02.2, picking up his fourth win with six seconds and one third in 14 starts. The trotter has earned $42,601 for the Andy Miller Stable and Arden Homestead Stable.

Harold Dancer winner Muscle On It added the New Jersey Futurity to his credits with a wire-to-wire, half-length victory in the first split, a non-wagering race with a purse of $14,000. The mile was timed in 2:00.2. Daniel Dube drove the son of Muscle Hill for trainer Chris Ryder. Skates N Plates was second and Angels Ransom was three-quarters of a length back in third. Both are sons of Revenue.

Muscle On In has earned $59,665 for co-owner Ryder and his partners Robert Mondillo and Max Wernick.

The New Jersey Futurity is restricted to New Jersey-sired trotters and is sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

Dube and Ryder also combined to win a $7,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes–Green Acres for 3-year-old trotting fillies with Vida De Vie in the first of two non-wagering events, in 2:00.4. Vida De Vie, owned and bred by Joie De Vie Farm LLC, completed a sweep of the three preliminary legs of the Green Acres. Connie Keeper was second and Ninety Five Janet was third, 23-1/2 lengths back. All three are daughters of Muscles Yankee.