by Leon Zimmerman, for the New Jersey Sire Stakes

Freehold, NJ — Chapter Seven, now undefeated in four lifetime starts, dominated a field of 2-year-old trotting colts to win the $100,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes championship in a record-setting 1:57.2 on Friday (Sept. 3) at Freehold Raceway.

World Wide Racing Photos

Chapter Seven and Jeff Gregory were 1:57.2 winners in the NJSS Final.

With Jeff Gregory in the sulky, the son of Windsong’s Legacy took the lead approaching the half-mile mark, hit the stretch 2-1/2 lengths in front and drew off to win by 10 lengths over Winuendo (Windsong’s Legacy), who out-trotted Musclelaneous (Muscles Yankee) to the wire.

Chapter Seven’s winning time erased the previous mark of 1:57.3 set in 2008 by The Chancellor.

In winning his fourth consecutive race in as many starts, the colt boosted his purse earnings to $87,000 for co-owners Richard S. Gutnick and Gary J. Cocco. The winning trainer was Linda Toscano.