by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Chester, PA — Well Said and Explosive Matter met expectations while Special Sweetheart sprung a surprise on Super Stakes Sunday at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack.

Explosive Matter won the $500,000 Colonial for 3-year-old trotters with a world-record 1:53 mile, beating The Chancellor by 2-1/2 lengths while Well Said bounced back from his third-place finish in the Delvin Miller Adios to take the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine for 3-year-old pacers by 1-3/4 lengths over Chasin Racin in 1:50.

Ron Pierce drove both colts to victory.

“I would have been disappointed if I would have gotten beat with either one of them,” said Pierce, who recently got career win No. 7,000. “I’d have gone home sour because I fully expected to win both those races.”

Special Sweetheart (#4) pulled off a 22-1 upset in the $350,000 Valley Forge.

Special Sweetheart, sent off at odds of 22-1, upset top choices Ginger And Fred and Not Enough by one length in 1:51 to win the $350,000 Valley Forge for 3-year-old filly pacers. Not Enough was unbeaten in 10 previous starts.

“She got a great second-over trip. We couldn’t ask for more,” trainer Anette Lorentzon said. “Down the stretch she was just the strongest one. I’m very happy with her.”

Special Sweetheart was sixth at the midway point before following Blogette Hanover to the top of the stretch. Meanwhile, Not Enough faced pressure through an opening half of :55.1 and three-quarters of 1:22.4.

“On the last turn I still had a handful of horse, so I thought I was going to be in good shape,” driver David Miller said. “I didn’t know if she was going to win, but I figured she was going to be knocking at them. She went strong through the stretch and got the job done.”

Special Sweetheart has won four of 12 races this year and earned $326,915. She is owned by the 4 For 3 Stable.

Driver Ron Pierce, caretaker Emma Pettersson, trainer Noel Daley and owner Adam Victor Jr. celebrate in the winner’s circle with Explosive Matter.

Explosive Matter’s 1:53 win in the Colonial was a new record for a 3-year-old trotter on a five-eighths-mile track. The previous mark of 1:53.1 was shared by Caviar Crown, Hidden Viggorish and Airzoom Lindy, who joined the group earlier on the day’s card at Chester.

“That was easy,” Pierce said. “Anyone could have sat there and won that race, because that’s all I did — sit there. The horse did all the work.”

Explosive Matter, trained by Noel Daley, has won four of seven races this year and earned $757,025. He is owned by the Adam Victor & Son Stable.

Well Said, who earlier this year won two million-dollar races, the Meadowlands Pace and North America Cup, was fifth at the half-mile point in the Battle of the Brandywine, but followed Mr Wiggles into striking position.

“I could have moved him sooner and cleared easier, but I really wanted to keep him within himself; I didn’t want to get him tired like I did at the Adios,” Pierce said. “Once I got around (those horses) I knew we were just going to coast to the wire.”

USTA/Ken Weingartner photos

Well Said‘s second trainer Toni Rose and driver Ron Pierce head to the winner’s circle after capturing the Battle of the Brandywine.

Well Said, trained by Steve Elliott, has won seven of nine races this year and earned $1.5 million for owners Jeff Snyder and Lothlorien.

“He didn’t disgrace himself at all (in the Adios). When you go the trips he’s been going, you’re going to get a little tired,” Elliott said. “He’s always better with a trip. As long as he’s following someone and has got a target to shoot at, he’s always better. Ronnie got a pretty good trip and prevailed.”

Arctic Warrior won the $200,000 Battle of the Brandywine Consolation I in 1:50.4 for trainer Sam Beegle and owners Wahoo Stable, Paul Eyerly, Carl Vizzi and James Novinger. Arctic Warrior was driven by David Miller. Fire On The Water, driven by Tim Tetrick for trainer Mark Harder and owner Anthony Nichols, won the $100,000 Battle of the Brandywine Consolation II in a track record 1:49.3.

And Heez Perfect won the $200,000 Colonial Consolation I in 1:54.4. He was driven by Dave Palone for trainer Peter Foley and owner Mitchell Walker. Reinsman Hanover won the $100,000 Colonial Consolation II in 1:54.1. Reinsman Hanover was driven by Tetrick for trainer Trond Smedshammer and owner Reve Avec Moi stable.

Trainer Jimmy Takter took the two Valley Forge consolations, with Kiss Me Kate and Perfectionist. Kiss Me Kate won the $150,000 division in 1:51.3 with driver John Campbell. The filly is owned by Christina Takter, John Fielding, and RAW Equine. The race was marred by an accident involving several horses, including Singnoevil Hanover (driven by Mike Wilder), Melissa’s Fancy (Corey Callahan) and She’s A Fan (Tim Tetrick). The horses and drivers returned to the paddock with an assortment of cuts and scrapes, but no apparent major injuries. Perfectionist, driven by Dan Dube for owner Brittany Farms, won the $75,000 Valley Forge division in 1:52.

Lookout Hanover lowered the world record for 4-year-old stallion pacers on a five-eighths-mile track by winning the 4-Year-Old Open in 1:49. Lookout Hanover, driven by Corey Callahan for trainer Kevin McDermott, shared the previous record of 1:49.2 with Art Official and Jenna’s Beach Boy.