Four standardbreds ranked in the top 10 in North America will come to Balmoral Park on Saturday night for what is considered the best card in Chicago harness racing’s 60-year history.
The $203,000 Aged Pace, the $200,000 Aged Trot and the $190,000 3-year-old Trot head the list of six open stakes races on the American-National Night program.
Sand Vic, the top-ranked trotter in the weekly Hambletonian-Breeders’ Crown poll, is the 6-5 morning-line favorite in the Aged Trot.
Clashing in the Aged Pace will be Lis Mara (8-5), world record-holder Holborn Hanover (2-1) and Ponder (5-1). They’re ranked second, third and fourth, respectively, among pacers in North America. Holborn Hanover became the fastest horse in standardbred history when he won a division of the U.S. Pacing Championship in 1 minute 46 4/5 seconds Aug. 5 at the Meadowlands.
Chocolatier, the runner-up in the Hambletonian, is projected as the 7-5 choice in the 3-year-old Trot.