Chocolatier sweeps

Chocolatier and driver D. R. Ackerman endured a photo finish in the first heat then came back with a convincing victory in the second heat and captured the $530,000 World Trotting Derby at Du Quoin Saturday afternoon with miles in 1:55 and 1:53, respectively. Make You Mine and Mike Lachance finished second and third in the two heats to earn second-place money. Third in the placing system went to E L Mikko and Tim Tetrick with fourth and second-place finishes.

In the first heat Chocolatier was moved to the front after an opening quarter in :28.2 and he lazily took the field to the half in :58 and 1:27.2 with Make You Mine sitting on his back. Chocolatier accelerated in the lane, but so did Make You Mine, who nearly caught the race favorite, falling just a nose short at the wire. Double Player and Andy Miller were third.

In the second heat Chocolatier trotted third through the first turn as Johnny Muscles and Double Player opened in a faster rate, passing the quarter in :27.1 and the half in :56. Going into the turn Ackerman pulled Chocolatier, and he responded with a quick move to the front, passing the three quarters in 1:24.3 and gradually pulled away from the field with a :28.2 final panel and a 3 3/4-length victory over E L Mikko.

The victories are the fourth and fifth of the season in 10 starts for Chocolatier. Trained by Ackerman’s Hall of Fame father, Doug, the Credit winner colt is owned by the Ackerman Stable, Southwind Farm and Lindy Farm.

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