$2.3 million card on tap Sunday at Harrah's Chester

Hambletonian runner-up Crazed and world-champion filly Snow White—making her first appearance against the colts—headline the field for the $500,000 Colonial Trot at Harrah’s Chester Sunday, part of an impressive $2.3-million card of races that also includes the $500,000 Battle of the Brandywine for 3-year-old colt pacers and the $350,000 Valley Forge for 3-year-old filly pacers.

Crazed will be making his first start since his runner-up finish behind Deweycheatumnhowe in the $1.5 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands Aug. 2, after having won his elimination in a career-best 1:52.4. Trainer Frank M. Antonacci will once again have Tim Tetrick in the sulky behind the son of Credit Winner, who will be leaving from post five in the Colonial.

It’s been an up-and-down year for Snow White, who set a freshman world record of 1:52.4 last fall at The Red Mile. The Kevin Lare-trained daughter of Self Possessed has won three of five starts this year but made a break in her sophomore debut as well as in her Hambletonian Oaks elimination that kept her from making the final. Racing six days after her ill-timed Oaks miscue, Snow White rebounded for driver John Campbell with a 1:53.2 victory in the $30,000 Duenna Invitational at the Meadowlands. Campbell will once again drive Snow White, who will leave the gate from post two in the Colonial.

Also in the strong eight-horse Colonial field is Yonkers Trot winner Napoleon, who will leave from post three for driver Stephane Bouchard, as well as Hambletonian fourth-place finisher Celebrity Secret, with Brian Sears driving from post six.

The Battle of the Brandywine matches up eight of the sport’s finest sophomore colt pacers, with Art Rooney and Hempt winner and North America Cup runner-up Badlands Nitro landing post one for trainer George Teague Jr. and driver Sears. The richest of the entrants in 2008 with a seasonal bankroll of nearly $900,000, Badlands Nitro is coming off a 1:50.3 victory Aug. 10 in an Open Pace at Harrah’s Chester, the first start for the son of Badlands Nitro after a three-week layoff.

Meadowlands Pace elim winner and third-place finisher in the $1.1 million final Share The Delight drew the outside eight post for trainer Linda Toscano and John Campbell in the Battle of the Brandywine. Also in the field is Berry’s Creek winner Blueridge Western (post two, Yannick Gingras), New Jersey Classic winner McCedes (post three, Cat Manzi) and Burlington division winner Dali (post six, Tim Tetrick).

Mistletoe Shalee winner Stylish Artist drew post eight in the Valley Forge, with Eric Goodell named to drive by trainer Monte Gelrod. The daughter of Artsplace paced a career-best 1:51 in her Mistletoe Shalee win Hambletonian day at the Meadowlands as she upset the field at odds of 72-1.

Also in the field is Thong, whose five-race winning streak was ended by Stylish Artist in the Mistletoe Shalee. Prior to that the daughter of Western Hanover had victories in the Fan Hanover consolation at Mohawk, the Lismore final at Yonkers, and a Tarport Hap division and her Mistletoe Shalee elim at the Big M. Trainer Kevin Lare has named Tetrick to drive from post three.

Tug River Princess, who has won eight of 12 starts this year, will leave from post two in the Valley Forge for driver Campbell. The Ross Croghan trainee is coming off a seventh-place finish in the Mistletoe Shalee after having lost in photos in her prior two outings. She set her career mark of 1:51.1 while capturing her Fan Hanover elim, eventually finishing third to Chancey Lady in the final.

There is a special 3 p.m. post time at Harrah’s Chester for its Super Stakes Sunday program, with detention barn six hours out from each of the stakes approximate post time. The card also features several consolations of the three major stakes events.

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