by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Ken Weingartner

Freehold, NJ — Paul Kelley cannot recall whether Xquisite Chocolate was on his list of yearlings to examine at last fall’s Lexington Selected Sale, but the filly grabbed his attention anyway.

She has kept his interest since then.

A daughter of Chocolatier out of the mare Armbro Exquisite, Xquisite Chocolate has won one of six races and earned $22,870 for owners Abraham Singer, Bill Weaver and the Kelley Racing Stable. On Thursday night (September 8), she will compete in the third of three eliminations for the C$447,000 Peaceful Way Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack. The final is September 17.

Xquisite Chocolate is coming off a third-place finish in a $91,945 division of the Champlain Stakes on September 1 at Mohawk. Undefeated Check Me Out won the race in a stakes-record 1:55.1. Xquisite Chocolate, driven by Trevor Ritchie, was beaten by 2-1/2 lengths — a half-length behind runner-up Superstar Hanover — and timed in 1:55.3.

“She stepped last week really big,” Kelley said. “There were some really good fillies in there and I wasn’t sure where my filly fit in there. She’s been getting a little stronger and last week was by far her best race.

“Trevor gave her a great drive, following (Check Me Out). She just kept coming. I thought she might get a little tired on the end of it, but she was solid right to the wire. Trevor was pretty happy. She still has to prove herself, but hopefully the good trend continues.”

Xquisite Chocolate was purchased for $50,000 at the yearling sale. Her third dam, Armbro Eclair, is the mother of stakes-winners Chocolate Layered and Echo Hanover as well as successful broodmares Peace A Pie (foals include Pizza Dolce and Mars Bar) and Articulate Hanover (Southwind Allaire and Ariane Du Haras).

Fourth dam Armbro Whirl’s offspring include stakes-winners Armbro Flori and Armbro Vanquish (mother of Manofmanymissions and Armbro Deja Vu, who is the mom of Dejarmbro).

“It’s a strong family,” Kelley said. “Pedigree always counts for something. When you can get pedigree and conformation together, you hope it just increases your odds.

“I don’t remember if she was on my list, but I like to shop for trotting fillies and I saw her out and she caught my eye,” he added. “She had a nice smart look to her. I always liked Chocolatier and she kind of looks like her daddy a little bit. To me, she was just a sharp looking filly. I’ve bought other horses that way. If you’re walking around a good horse is going to catch your eye.”

Xquisite Chocolate was off the board in her first two starts, but since then has a victory, a second and two thirds. She is 9-2 on the morning line for her Peaceful Way elimination race.

“She’s been a really willing filly all along,” Kelley said. “She had a good attitude and is a really smart filly, and a good gaited filly, which makes my job really easier.

“She’s got a ways to go. It’s going to be tough enough on Thursday night. It’s going to be another dogfight. She doesn’t seem to beat herself. She’s pretty consistent and pretty level headed. That counts for a lot too sometimes, especially with trotting fillies.”

Kelley was thankful to avoid Check Me Out in Thursday’s Peaceful Way elims. Check Me Out is 8-for-8 for trainer Ray Schnittker. Her wins include the $333,200 Merrie Annabelle Stakes at the Meadowlands on August 6.

“She’s really nice,” Kelley said. “She seems to be a level above everybody else. But there are a lot of good ones out there. Every week you just prepare the best you can.”

Following are the fields for Thursday’s Peaceful Way eliminations, with listed drivers and trainers.

Elim One: 1. Flower Bouquet, J. Moiseyev, D. Martin; 2. Witch Way, Ra. Waples, J. MacIsaac; 3. Ticket To Broadway, T. Ritchie, C. Beaver; 4. Superstar Hanover, J. Takter, J. Takter; 5. Princess Fortune, A. MacDonald, P. Reid; 6. Adreamcomestrue As, T. Tetrick, A. Lorentzon; 7. Muscles Soul, Y. Gauthier, J. Leblond.

Elim Two: 1. Miss Majestic, S. Filion, M. Steacy; 2. Check Me Out, T. Tetrick, R. Schnittker; 3. Dream On Hanover, B. Miller, S. Lind; 4. Bavarde, S. Zeron, R. Jones; 5. Win Missy B, T. Ritchie, C. Norris; 6. Talbotcreek Jewely, S. Coulter, M. Keeling; 7. Garbo Blue Chip, Ri. Zeron, Zeron.

Elim Three: 1. Lady Andi, J. Jamieson, L. Rathbone; 2. Xquisite Chocolate, T. Ritchie, P. Kelley; 3. Aunt Mel, T. Tetrick, E. Miller; 4. Chilitodayhotamale, B. Sears, T. Smedshammer; 5. Its All Magic, Ra. Waples, P. Coole; 6. Love Walked In, A. Miller, J. Miller; 7. Miss Paris, S. Zeron, R. Norman.