Chocolatier has first winner for Ackerman

The 2005 Two-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year Chocolatier had his first winning progeny Monday night, June 7, at Hazel Park Raceway as Creme De Cocoa won a non-wagering baby race. With Hall of Fame horseman Doug Ackerman driving, the freshman filly Creme De Cocoa led start to finish to win in 2:04.4, trotting a back half in 1:00.3 and final quarter in :29.3 to draw clear of her two rivals by 5 3/4 lengths.

 

“She’s a big horse, a really nice filly, and she can go a whole lot more,” said Ackerman. “She was well in hand.”

 

Ackerman said he plans on sending Creme De Cocoa immediately to the Meadowlands for the first leg of New Jersey Sire Stakes (NJSS) action on June 24, and that he has the filly fully staked the remainder of the year.

 

“She’s ready to go,” he said of the plan to enter Creme De Cocoa in the NJSS off just one baby race. “She can drop in time, don’t worry about that. She’s fit.”

 

Creme De Cocoa is out of the Garland Lobell mare Judge Judy, a winner on the New York Sire Stakes circuit at age three, and is a half sister to the 2009 Yonkers Trot winner Judge Joe, who earned more than $900,000 on the racetrack. A homebred of Doug and Ada Jean Ackerman, Creme De Cocoa’s sire also counted among his career victories the 2005 Breeders Crown and the 2006 World Trotting Derby. He was also the runner-up in the 2006 Hambletonian behind Glidemaster.