from the USTA Communications Department

East Rutherford, NJ — Manofmanymissions and Chapter Seven captured their respective $166,000 divisions of the Stanley Dancer Memorial for 3-year-old male trotters on Saturday (July 16) at Meadowlands Racetrack.

Lisa photo

Manofmanymissions was a 1:52.1 winner for driver Andy Miller.

Last year’s Breeders Crown freshman champion, Manofmanymissions came first over in his Dancer split and engaged favored Dejarmbro on the final turn, then blew past the leader in the stretch on his way to an impressive victory in a time of 1:52.1. Andy Miller was in the bike for trainer Erv Miller as the son of Yankee Glide-Armbro Vanquish defeated Broad Bahn by 6-1/4 lengths, with Dejarmbro another length back in third.

It was the second win in four starts this year for Manofmanymissions, who took his 2011 bankroll to $99,500 for owners Manofmanymissions Stable, Mystical Marker Farms and M Biasuzzi Stable.

“It’s been a bumpy road,” said driver Andy Miller of Manyofmanymissions’ 2011 campaign, “but Erv has done a great job of getting him back to here. He was back to his old self tonight. When he’s on his game, it takes a pretty special horse to outmuscle him because he’s tough. We’re looking forward to the Hambletonian eliminations (on July 30).”

“He’s been a puzzle coming back,” added Erv Miller. “Early on in Florida he trained back real nice, as good as he’s ever been. Then we came out of Florida and he had an abscess come out of his foot. Between that and a tough job shoeing this horse, he’s just been a puzzle right from the start. We rechanged his shoes around and he’s been really good. He’s a super fast horse, especially when he’s like this. He can cover the ground really easily. I don’t think he needs a lot of work before the Hambo elims.”

The second Dancer division went to Chapter Seven and driver Mike Lachance in a time of 1:53.1. The Windsong’s Legacy-La Riviera Lindy colt was a head winner over Big Rigs, with Big Sky Storm finishing third.

The Linda Toscano trainee made his 2011 debut a winning one and scored for the eighth time in nine lifetime efforts. The career winner of $294,549 is owned by Richard Gutnick, Gary Cocco, Southwind Farm and Jerry Silva.