by John Siscos, WEG communications

Toronto, ON — Favored Chapter Seven, driven by Jeff Gregory, stormed past the leaders in early stretch to post an overpowering seven length score over Broad Bahn and Daylon Magician in the $610,000 Breeders Crown 3-year-old Colt Trot on Saturday (Oct. 29) at Woodbine Racetrack.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Chapter Seven posted a seven length score in the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt trot.

Trained by Linda Toscano, Chapter Seven, who comfortably won his elim last week in 1:53.2, was even better in the final, stopping the teletimer in 1:53.

Gregory picked up the catch drive since regular driver Tim Tetrick could not make it to Toronto after a freak snowstorm delayed flights earlier in the day out of New Jersey. Gregory, through, had been Chapter Seven‘s regular pilot last year.

Manofmanymissions reached the half in :56.4 and the three-quarters in 1:24.3 before being challenged by Daylon Magician turning for home. At that point, Manofmanymissions suddenly made a break, but in a blink of an eye, Chapter Seven, who had been placed in fourth, had swallowed the leaders and was on his way to an easy triumph.

Owned by Richard Gutnick, Gary Cocco, Southwind Farm and Jerry Silva, Chapter Seven won his fourth in only eight starts this year, after being plagued with sickness and lameness for much of the season. Last year, the son of Windsong’s Legacy-La Riviera Lindy was almost perfect, taking seven of eight starts, with one third.

As the 7-5 choice, Chapter Seven returned $4.90 to win.

“It worked out quite well,” said driver Jeff Gregory. “I got to start him out as a 2-year-old and it’s looking like I will get to finish him off as a 3-year-old, maybe.

“The trip worked out great, I didn’t have to use him at all, he was still fresh at the head of the stretch, I never even pulled the ear plugs on him. He was great.”

“I felt confident but I felt nervous,” said co-owner Richard Gutnick. “This means a lot. We always felt he was one of the best out there. But because of sickness, soreness and everything seeming to go wrong, we figured something had to go right. Linda did a great job turning him around.

“We’re looking forward to going forward again. I hope there are a lot of 4-year-old races next year because we would prefer to race him rather than stand him at stud.

“He always seemed to want to rise to the occasion. Even when he was sick he would close and do what he needed to do. I was very excited because I thought we had an excellent opportunity. I thought last week was a great tightener for tonight. I was still nervous, though. I had 46 people at the Hambletonian. I thought we were going to win that, but it doesn’t always go according to plan. It’s nice when it does.”