The fifth race on Saturday night at the Meadowlands was the $375,000 Stanley Dancer Memorial for three-year-old colt trotters. A trio of Trond Smedshammer trainees, led by Mr Pine Chip, swept the first three places. Mr Pine Chip with driver Brian Sears in tow, took the lion's share of the purse, while stablemates Blue Mac Lad and Here Comes Herbie finished second and third, respectively. After defending freshman champion Chocolatier broke stride past the opening turn, Blue Mac Lad held an unchallenged lead entering the stretch until Mr Pine Chip tracked him down in the final strides for a neck victory. Mr Pine Chip, who is now a perfect five-for-five this season, trotted the mile in a lifetime best 1:52.
The Stanley Dancer is the last local prep for the Hambletonian on August 5. The eliminations will be run on July 29. Mr Pine Chip is owned by Joe Sbrocco of Brecksville, Ohio and Southwind Farm of Pennington, New Jersey.
Winning driver Brian Sears said, "This was my first experience behind him. I heard a lot about him and he lived up to everything I was told. I was sitting fourth or fifth on the rail and I thought I'd be second over. The pace was pretty hot. There was no pressure to pull. I got a pretty easy trip."
Meadowlands Pace results
William R. Haughton Memorial results
