Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Harness racing’s top-rated pacer, 3-year-old colt Well Said, will try to rebound from a third-place finish in the Delvin Miller Adios when he meets seven rivals in Sunday’s $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine at Harrah’s Chester Casino and Racetrack in Pennsylvania.

Well Said won the $1.3 million North America Cup, the $1 million Meadowlands Pace, and set the track record at The Meadows in his Adios elimination race before falling to Vintage Master in the $677,665 Adios final on August 1.

Well Said, who trails only trotters Muscle Hill and Lucky Jim in the Hambletonian Society/Breeders Crown weekly Top 10 poll, has won six of eight races this season and earned $1.3 million. He is trained by Steve Elliott, driven by Ron Pierce, and owned by Jeff Snyder and Lothlorien stable.

Lisa photo

Well Said leads a field of eight into Sunday’s $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine at Harrah’s Chester.

“We just went to the well one too many times there,” said Pierce, who on August 8 got the 7,000th driving win of his career. “But for that kind of money, it’s hard not to. I’m sure with the extra week off it will help him. He had a good excuse.

“I know he’s the best colt out there. I’m sure if he wasn’t sharp and on his toes, Stevie wouldn’t take him (to Chester).”

Well Said will see familiar faces at Chester, including Vintage Master and Adios runner-up Mr Wiggles.

Vintage Master has won just two of 25 career races, but he has hit the board 17 times and earned $913,022. Prior to winning the Adios, the colt was second in the Meadowlands Pace, second in the $500,000 New Jersey Classic, and second at ages 2 and 3 in the New Jersey Sire Stakes championship.

“I said a month ago that one of these days (Vintage Master) was going to win one of these big ones,” trainer Jimmy Takter said. “The caliber of races he’s been in, those are tough to win.”

Brittany Farms and the estate of Brian Monieson own Vintage Master, who has been driven in his last 10 races by Dan Dube.

Mr Wiggles has won seven of 13 races this year and earned $688,537. His top victory came in the $500,000 Hoosier Cup on May 30 at Hoosier Park. He is trained by George Teague, Jr., who co-owns the colt with Elmer Fannin. Corey Callahan is the driver. Teague and Fannin also have Chasin Racin and Johnny Z in the Battle of the Brandywine.

Following is the field for the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine. Horses are in post position order with listed drivers and trainers: 1. Johnny Z, Tim Tetrick, George Teague, Jr.; 2. Chasin Racin, David Miller, Teague; 3. Fireintheshark, Tetrick, Jim Campbell; 4. Mr Wiggles, Corey Callahan, Teague; 5. Well Said, Ron Pierce, Steve Elliott; 6. Hypnotic Blue Chip, Andy Miller, Mark Harder; 7. Drop Red, George Brennan, Robert Horowitz; and 8. Vintage Master, Dan Dube, Jimmy Takter.

Johnny Z won the Max C. Hempt Memorial at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs on May 23; Chasin Racin won the Matt’s Scooter at the Meadowlands on March 21 and was second to Mr Wiggles in the Hoosier Cup; Fireintheshark won the Adios Consolation at The Meadows on August 1 and was second in the Art Rooney Pace at Yonkers Raceway; Hypnotic Blue Chip won the Empire Breeders Classic on May 24 at Tioga Downs and was second to Drop Red in the Oliver Wendell Holmes; Drop Red won the Oliver Wendell Holmes on August 8 at the Meadowlands and was second in the Berry’s Creek.