from Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Freehold, NJ — Last season’s top 2-year-old filly trotter, Snow White, and Hambletonian runner-up Crazed headline Sunday’s $500,000 The Colonial at Harrah’s Chester in Pennsylvania. The race is just one of many rich events on the day’s card, which has a special 3:00 p.m. post time for the first race.

Chester’s five-eighths-mile oval will be Snow White’s first race on a track smaller than a mile. She will face a group of male trotters that includes Crazed, Yonkers Trot winner Napoleon, and Dexter Cup champ Holiday Credit.

USTA/Ken Weingartner photo

Snow White will be making her five-eighths-mile track debut in The Colonial.

Snow White, driven by John Campbell, is coming off a win August 1 in the Duenna at the Meadowlands Racetrack. Her target had been the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks the following day, but the filly went off stride in her elimination the previous week and failed to advance to the final.

“I wish her first start after the time off wouldn’t be against the boys, but I really had nowhere else to go and it’s a half-million-dollar opportunity,” said Lare, who co-owns Snow White with the North State Street Stable and Jerry Silva. “So far everything is good. We’re interested to see how it pans out. There’s no (Hambletonian winner) Deweycheatumnhowe, but there’s no shame in anyone else in that race. It’s her first time on a smaller track, but I think she’ll be fine.”

Snow White’s 1:53.2 win in the Duenna was her fastest victory of the year and ranks fourth quickest among all 3-year-old trotters in 2008 behind Deweycheatumnhowe, Crazed and Napoleon. She has won three of five starts this season and 14 of 18 in her career. Her lifetime earnings are $1.4 million.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Hambletonian runner-up Crazed will start from post five in The Colonial.

Crazed, driven by Tim Tetrick, has won four of six races this year and came within a half-length of unbeaten Deweycheatumnhowe in the $1.5 million Hambletonian on August 2 at the Meadowlands. He is owned by the Lindy Racing Stable, Gary and Ellen Hoffman, and Bob Rudolph.

“He came out of that race really well,” trainer Frank Antonacci, Jr. said. “I was very happy. I like my chances as good as anybody’s. The horse is really coming into his own now; there aren’t many horses we’re afraid of right now. But at this level, going against the best around, anything can happen.”

The full field, in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: The Pres (A. Miller, T. Smedshammer), Snow White (J. Campbell, K. Lare), Napoleon (S. Bouchard, N. Daley), In Focus (D. Palone, J. Takter), Crazed (T. Tetrick, F. Antonacci, Jr.), Celebrity Secret (B. Sears, S. Lind), Ace High Hall (D. Dube, M. Ford), and Holiday Credit (R. Pierce, J. Takter).

Also Sunday, Chester hosts the $500,000 Battle of Brandywine for 3-year-old pacers and the $350,000 Valley Forge for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Badlands Nitro, who will start from post one in the Battle of Brandywine, is coming off a win August 10 at Chester in the 3-year-old open. It was his first appearance since finishing seventh in the $1.1 million Meadowlands Pace on July 19. Trained by George Teague, Jr. and driven by Brian Sears, the colt has won seven of 10 starts this season and earned $884,988. His victories include the Art Rooney Pace and Max Hempt Memorial. He was second in the $1.5 million North America Cup.

The full Battle of Brandywine field, in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: Badlands Nitro (B. Sears, G. Teague, Jr.), Blueridge Western (Y. Gingras, M. Burke), McCedes (C. Manzi, C. Ryder), Rudy Rednose (T. Tetrick, G. Teague, Jr.), Mystery Chase (B. Sears, Ji. Campbell), Dali (T. Tetrick, D. Marfisi), Upfront Hannahsboy (T. Tetrick, J. Arledge, Jr.), and Share The Delight (J. Campbell, L. Toscano).

In the Valley Forge, longshot Mistletoe Shalee winner Stylish Artist will start from post eight. She won the Mistletoe Shalee at odds of 72-1 by 1-1/2 lengths over Valley Forge contender Good News Lady. The field also includes four of the other top nine money-winning 3-year-old filly pacers this season — Artimittateslife, Thong, Tug River Princess, and Knock Three Times.

The full Valley Forge field, in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: Cartniverous (E. Goodell, J. Green), Tug River Princess (J. Campbell, R. Croghan), Thong (T. Tetrick, K. Lare), Respectable (Y. Gingras, S. Elliott), Good News Lady (G. Grismore, J. Takter), Artimittateslife (S. Bouchard, E. Hart), Knock Three Times (D. Miller, R. Croghan), and Stylish Artist (E. Goodell, M. Gelrod).

Editor’s Note: The Colonial and the Battle of Brandywine will be part of the USTA’s Cyber Circuit, meaning that video replays will be available shortly after the races have been contested. For more information on the Cyber Circuit, click here.