SUPER CHAPTER, GO DOG GO TAKE WINNING STEPS IN STANLEY DANCER MEMORIAL

AST RUTHERFORD, NJ -- July 12, 2025 -- Super Chapter and Go Dog Go recorded speed-smashing victories in their respective editions of the Stanley Dancer Memorial at The Meadowlands on Saturday (July 12) as they both eye towards the 100^th Hambletonian. 

With a commanding mile while facing minimal challenge, Super Chapter – with Dexter Dunn at the reins – won the first of the two $119,500 Stanley Dancer Memorial divisions.

Hidalgo left for the lead from the inside, but 1-9 favorite Super Chapter eased towards the front out of post 4 and captured the top spot in a :27 first quarter. Hidalgo sat second ahead of Hard Seven and Monserrate, all while Super Chapter sailed to a :55.1 half.

Holding on to the top spot with ease, Super Chapter was in a smooth groove as the lineup changed when Monserrate left the pylons to go after the leader and Gap Kronos S took the live cover behind him. Super Chapter clocked the three-quarters in 1:23.3 and continued to pick up the pace down the stretch. He recorded a :27 final quarter while keeping Monserrate to his rear in a personal-best 1:50.3 mile. Monserrate closed well to finish second, beaten 1-1/4 lengths, and longshot Blank made up sufficient real estate to finish third. Hidalgo held fourth.

Super Chapter, coming from a win in the Yonkers Trot, the first leg of the Trotting Triple Crown, is a son of Chapter Seven out of 2014 Hambletonian Oaks winner Lifetime Pursuit. He is owned by Jeff Snyder and Arthur S. Pronti and trained by Marcus Melander. He lifted his lifetime wins to nine from 15 starts and his lifetime earnings to $802,990. He paid $2.20 to win.

Mattias Melander, assistant trainer to Marcus Melander, said after the race, "He was super today and is good all around on any track size. He's really no problem and we did not have to make any changes [in equipment] for this one."

The Melander barn adds Super Chapter with Maryland for their shots at the 100th Hambletonian. 

Act two of the Stanley Dancer Memorial offered a lot more movement on the two turns than act one. As the gate unfolded, two betting outsiders – Top Gun Hanover and Nordic Catcher S – grabbed the leading roles while Go Dog Go followed in front of race-favorite Maryland.

The first quarter clocked in at :27.3 as Go Dog Go and Todd McCarthy took to the outside and swished to the top with Maryland and Dexter Dunn picking up his cover. Maryland took over the lead, but the two top betting choices soon locked into a brief duel as Go Dog Go popped back outside as three-quarters flashed 1:24.3.

Go Dog Go lunged forward to stick a head in front of Maryland on the turn for home. McCarthy had Go Dog Go on the outside with plenty of trot left, enough to smack a :26.1 final quarter and repel Maryland by a neck in a lifetime-best 1:50.4. Nordic Catcher S was third and Maximus Mearas S held on for fourth. 

“There was a little bit of pressure coming from the outer flow,” Todd McCarthy said. “He felt so good at the time that I really didn’t want to risk getting put in a pocket there, and I felt like the move I made in the backstretch didn’t have to use too much energy. Maryland raced great too, but the way my guy felt I was happy to take my chance there.”

Wiesman Farms LLC and Al Libfeld own the son of Greenshoe-Primary Target. Go Dog Go is trained by Carter Pinske. 

"He fought back early," said owner-breeder John Wiseman. When asked about the connections' hopes for Go Dog Go to win the 100th Hambletonian, Wiseman said, "I’m not even going to go down that street. That’s in two weeks. Our first [Grand Circuit] stake win ever was last weekend in the Reynolds, so [he] is very, very special.”

Go Dog Go won all three of his races this season, and this was his fifth win in 13 starts. He goes into the Hambletonian having earned $410,192 lifetime. He paid $4.60 to win.

To watch the replays, click here: Division 1, Division 2.