by Carol Hodes, for the SBOA of New Jersey

Manalapan, NJ — Chapter Seven extended his unbeaten streak to five and posted a stakes record time in the $61,000 Harold Dancer Trot on Thursday (Sept. 16) at Freehold Raceway.

World Wide Racing Photos

Chapter Seven won the $61,000 Harold Dancer Trot in a stakes record of 1:59.

The son of Windsong’s Legacy remained flawless, as he drew away to a four length victory in a time of 1:59, chipping a fifth of a second off of Keystone Savage’s 1:59.1 clocking in the 2005 Harold Dancer.

Sponsored by the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey, the Harold Dancer is named in memory of the respected New Jersey-born trainer-driver and is restricted to New Jersey-sired 2-year-old trotters. It was a non-wagering event held prior to the betting program.

Chapter Seven, driven by Jeff Gregory and trained by Linda Toscano, now has five wins in five starts and a bankroll of $117,500 for Richard Gutnick and Gary Cocco.

“He’s been a very pleasant surprise,” said Toscano. “After a slow start, he’s come along in a big way. We were hoping to start him a few times then shut him down, but he’s turned out much better than anyone could have hoped. He has the New Jersey Futurity and Matron left. We’ll take it one start at a time.”

Finishing second was Musclelaneous (by Muscles Yankee). It was 16 lengths to Vindicate (by Windsong’s Legacy) in third. Rounding out the field were Ice Machine (by Muscles Yankee) and Winuendo (by Windsong’s Legacy) in fourth and fifth, respectively.