by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

CAMPBELLVILLE – Saddled with the 10-hole and the tall task of defeating Glidemaster, who was starting from the rail, Chocolatier ($11.50, $3.70, $2.60) and driver D.R. Ackerman reigned supreme in Saturday evening’s C$40,000 elimination for the C$1-million Canadian Trotting Classic, defeating the 2006 Hambletonian champion by a head in 1:53.1.

Chocolatier, the $1.3-million earning son of Credit Winner, got away mid-pack for Ackerman, who then tipped his charge first-up after the 27.3 opening quarter-mile. Clearing to the lead before he clicked off the half-mile clock in 56.3, Chocolatier would go on to reach the third stanza in a leisurely 1:26-flat.

WEG Photo

Chocolatier defeated Glidemaster in Saturday’s elimination for the C$1-million Canadian Trotting Classic.

On that final turn, Majestic Son was tipped first-over by pilot Trevor Ritchie, and John Campbell followed suit by aligning Glidemaster ($2.30, $2.10) in the second-over slot. Campbell tipped the Blair Burgess trainee off cover in the lane and began to close on Chocolatier, but ran out of racetrack, settling to bottom the $27.70 exactor.

Ritchie and Majestic Son ($2.40) rounded out the $62 triactor and were beaten one and three-quarter lengths.

“I knew that [Glidemaster] was right there and would be coming hard,” said Ackerman, who pilots the 2006 World Trotting Derby winner for his father, trainer Doug Ackerman. “I didn’t know if I could hold him off or not. And, without a doubt, he’ll be coming hard next week as well.”

Chocolatier notched his 14 career win via the effort, and pushed his 2006 record to 6-3-0 from 11 starts for owners Doug Ackerman Stables Inc., Southwind Farm and Lindy Farms.

Chocolatier’s connections had the option to accept a bye from the elimination and go straight to the final, but they decided to test their luck in the elimination anyway.

“We wanted to race him,” Ackerman explained. “He had received a week off, and he performs better when he races under a regular system. We wanted to stay within the program.”

Via the elimination victory, the connections of Chocolatier were able to select their charge’s post position for the final.

The field for the Canadian Trotting Classic is listed below.

Post – Horse

1 – Chocolatier

2 – Was It A dream

3 – Bacardi Lindy

4 – Blue Mac Lad

5 – Berto Primo

6 – Instant Photo

7 – Glidemaster

8 – RC Royalty

9 – Majestic Son

10 – Global Glide