by Harness Racing Communications, a division of the USTA

Two Dan Patch Award winners and a top contender for one of this year’s honors will be among the horses taking center stage in the American-National events for trotters Saturday at Balmoral Park in Crete, Illinois.

Chocolatier, who was second in the Hambletonian, headlines an eight-horse field for the $190,000 American-National for three-year-old male trotters. Vivid Photo, the 2005 Hambletonian winner, and Sand Vic, the division’s best so far this year, lead the finalists for the $250,000 American-National for older trotters.

Sand Vic received a bye into the final based on his seasonal earnings. The Trond Smedshammer trainee has won six of nine races this year, including the Breeders Crown, Nat Ray, Titan Cup and Cutler Memorial, while earning $796,250. He won the Nat Ray on August 5 by a head over Ripped in 1:51.3 at the Meadowlands.

“It was impressive,” Smedshammer said. “He got used pretty hard, but he kept digging in. He was getting tired at the end, but so were the other ones.”

Vivid Photo, who tied up and finished seventh in the American-National elimination race, has won three of 12 races and banked $323,300.

“He tied up tight as a drum,” trainer-driver Roger Hammer said. “That’s the first time it’s ever happened. I think he got a little dehydrated shipping out [to Illinois]. I think he’ll be all right for Saturday.”

Vivid Photo, who won the 2005 Dan Patch Award as best three-year-old trotter, had finished second in the Breeders Crown and fourth in the Nat Ray after trying to chase down Sand Vic with a first-over challenge at the three-quarter mark.

“He was getting into good form,” Hammer said. “I hope [tying up] doesn’t set him back. Coming here, he’d trained the best he’s been training. I think he’ll come out of it all right. Even when he’s been sick, he bounces right back. He’s a pretty tough horse.”

Also heading to the final are elimination winner Med Vac, Dink Adoo, Justice Hall, The Vicster, Sherrie’s Delight, Holy Guacamolie, and Dunkster. Med Vac, driven by Sam Widger and trained by Darby Miller, won the elim by a half-length over Dink Adoo in 1:53.1.

No eliminations were needed in the three-year-old division of the American-National. Joining Chocolatier in the final are Roman Holiday, Amazon Clipper, Senator Dalton, My Huckleberry, Double Player, Make You Mine, and Muscles To Spare.

Chocolatier has won two of seven races this year and earned $438,750. Last season, he won eight of 10 starts, including the Breeders Crown, en route to the Dan Patch Award as the best horse in the two-year-old male trotting ranks. Make You Mine won divisions of the International Stallion and Bluegrass last year.