Chocolatier rough-gaited

Champion 2 year old and Dan Patch award winner Chocolatier made a break in his first qualifying start of the year Friday morning at Hazel Park.

According to driver D.R. Ackerman, Chocolatier was leading at around the three-quarter pole when he broke stride.

“He wasn’t stroking very clean and we’ve got to re-rig here a little and readjust in some spots,” Ackerman told harnessracing.com. “He’s not lame—the trainers just have to get their heads together here and figure the puzzle out.

“The last time he made a break we put the Murphy blind back on. We had it on for a couple weeks here but he made a break again here so we’re abandoning ship on the Murphy blind. Forget that thing—we threw it away.”

Ackerman added that Chocolatier will make another qualifying start Friday, May 26, at Hazel Park.

Last year, Chocolatier won eight of 10 starts and $508,250. He made breaks in his two losses—in his very first start in an overnight at Hazel Park on June 30,2005, and in the Valley Victory elim at Woodbine on Oct. 15, 2005.

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