HorseOfYear-ChapterSeven_USTA_4472 crp

HorseOfYear-ChapterSeven_USTA_4472 crp

Fort Lauderdale — It was another crowning moment for Chapter Seven.

Chapter Seven and his connections received the Dan Patch Award for harness racing’s Horse of the Year on Sunday night before a crowd of more than 400 people at the Westin Beach Resort and Spa.

The ceremony came four months after Chapter Seven won the Breeders Crown Open Trot over an international field at Woodbine Racetrack; a victory that many consider his defining moment.

Chapter Seven, who won eight of 10 starts last year and earned $1.02 million, won the $600,000 Breeders Crown in 1:52.3 by 1-1/4 lengths over Mister Herbie despite racing on the outside for the entire mile.

“He was phenomenal,” said Tim Tetrick, who was honored tonight as Driver of the Year and was at the lines for all of Chapter Seven’s races last season. “He was parked every step of the mile and raced his heart out. It was pretty amazing.

“I drove him terrible and he overcame it and made me look like a genius,” Tetrick added with a laugh.

Chapter Seven, who was the first 4-year-old trotter be named Horse of the Year since Mack Lobell in 1988, also received Dan Patch honors as best older male trotter and Trotter of the Year. He is owned by Richard Gutnick, Southwind Farm and J&T Silva Stables and was trained by Linda Toscano.

Other trotters to receive Dan Patch Award divisional honors were Wheeling N Dealin (2-year-old male), To Dream On (2-year-old female), Market Share (3-year-old male), Check Me Out (3-year-old female) and Frenchfrysnvinegar (older female).

Award-winning pacers were Captaintreacherous as Pacer of the Year and best 2-year-old male pacer, Somwherovrarainbow (2-year-old female), Heston Blue Chip (3-year-old male), American Jewel (3-year-old female), Foiled Again (older male) and Anndrovette (older female).

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