Chapter Seven named top trotter

Chapter Seven and Market Share gave owner Richard Gutnick and trainer Linda Toscano a strong 1-2 punch on the racetrack.

The stablemates knocked out the competition off the track as well.

Chapter Seven on Tuesday was named trotter of the year by the U.S. Harness Writers Association, with Market Share finishing second in the organization's year-end Dan Patch Awards balloting.

Chapter Seven, a 4-year-old who also was voted the sport's best older male trotter, received 89 of 146 votes to claim trotter of the year. Market Share, who was named the best 3-year-old male trotter, received 50 votes. Both horses were driven regularly by Tim Tetrick.

Chapter Seven, owned by Gutnick with Southwind Farm and J&T Silva Stables, won eight of 10 races, finished second in both losses, earned $1.02 million in purses, and equaled history's fastest mile on a mile racetrack by winning the Nat Ray Invitational in 1:50.1 at the Meadowlands.

Market Share, owned by Gutnick with TLP Stable and William Augustine, won 10 of 20 races, accumulating $2 million in purses. His triumphs included the Hambletonian, making Toscano the first woman to win the prestigious trotting event, and the Canadian Trotting Classic.