Chapter Seven supplies 13 of 15 in EBC fields

Vernon, NY – New York’s finest harness racing 3-year-old trotters will converge on Vernon Downs this Friday afternoon to contest the Empire Breeders Classic (EBC), sponsored by the The Agriculture & New York State Horse Breeding Development Fund, NY Stallion Owners, Tioga Downs & Vernon Downs.

Seven daughters of the state’s leading sire of trotters, Chapter Seven, will face the starting gate in race 5 for a purse of $187,500.

Joviality S has been superb throughout her career with victories in the New York Sires Stakes (NYSS) final, Breeders Crown final and Goldsmith Maid last year at two resulting in earnings just shy of $900,000 for the interests of Anders Strom via his nom de course of Courant, Incorporated.

She has come back powerfully at age 3, with a pair of NYSS wins including a shockingly easy career best of 1:51.2 in her last over the Vernon oval on May 30. Brian Sears returns to the scene of his early lessons to drive Joviality S from post position five for trainer Marcus Melander.

The competition is led by Crawford Farms’ accomplished Valentina Blu, who consistently brings her “A” game and has earned over a third of a million dollars in her young career for trainer Tony Alagna. Andy McCarthy plots her course from post seven.

The EBC colts number eight and will come along in race 7 for an identical amount of $187,500.

Branded By Lindy (Chapter Seven, Yannick Gingras) currently sits atop the “Road to the Hambletonian” poll and has had one over the course with a 1:54.1 win last week in what was his first start of the season. He is the fastest of the field with a record of 1:52 taken at The Red Mile last fall for trainer Domenico Cecere. Lindy Farms bred and owns the precocious colt who carries the Antonacci family’s hopes for another Hambo win.

Slay (Chapter Seven, Alagna/ Tim Tetrick), Justice (Ake Svanstedt) and Cool Papa Bell (Chapter Seven, Sears/Jim Campbell) will present legitimate competition for the EBC hardware.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Nick Salvi, for the NYSS