by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — With only three entrants in the $40,000 Harold Dancer Trot, the stakes for New Jersey-sired 2-year-old trotting colts and geldings will be contested as a non-wagering event at 12:15 p.m. on Thursday (Sept. 20) at Freehold Raceway.

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

The rail horse is King Muscles (Muscles Yankee-Queen For A Day) who has made three of his five starts chasing Corky in the New Jersey Sire Stakes, picking up a third and two seconds, including a runner-up finish in the $150,000 final on August 17. Overall, he has three seconds and one third in five starts, banking $48,905 for owners J&T Silva Stables LLC.

The $22,000 Harrisburg Sale purchase is trained by Aaron Lambert. Cat Manzi is listed to drive.

The other two entrants are both sons of Chocolatier.

Chocolate Delight has yet to hit the board in three starts for his owner-driver Harry Landy. The Oyvind Hegdal trainee has picked up minor spoils for earnings of $1,680. He was a $10,000 Lexington Selected Sale purchase.

Marion Mayday, leaving from post three, has a second and a third in New Jersey Sire Stakes prelims and shows a bankroll of $5,790 from his seven starts. Bred and owned by William Mulligan, he is conditioned by Syl King, Jr. Cat Manzi is also listed to drive.

The stakes record of 1:59 was set in 2010 by Chapter Seven, who went on to trot a world record 1:50.1 in winning the 2012 Nat Ray.