Harness: Chin Chin Hall suffers season-ending injury

Just when it appeared that everything was moving in the right direction for 4-year-old trotter Chin Chin Hall, the Richard 'Nifty' Norman trainee suffered a broken coffin bone in the Graduate series final that will keep sidelined until 2021.

"He's having surgery Thursday (July 16) to have a screw put in," said Norman. "It usually takes about six months to recover."

Chin Chin Hall had yet to win in five starts this year but was holding his own against the top older trotters in the sport with a trio of second-place finishes and a third in the Graduate final. He was supposed to start in Saturday’s $464,900 Hambletonian Maturity for 4-year-olds at The Meadowlands.

"It's sad because the horse has really been racing fantastic, but he'll come back, I think just as strong," said Norman.

While Norman won’t be able to watch Chin Chin Hall compete, the veteran horseman has a half-dozen other players in the 10 stakes on the Saturday Big M card.

"I think all of the horses have a chance but they need the right trip," said Norman. "There are a lot of big fields and some of the races will get messy."

Perhaps the best opportunity for a victory and certainly the horse all eyes will be on is Hambletonian hopeful Amigo Volo. The Breeders Crown winner in his division last year makes his third start of 2020 in the first of two $142,250 divisions of the Stanley Dancer memorial for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters.

After a sixth-place finish to start the year, Amigo Volo took home a split of the PA All-Stars at The Downs at Pocono in a somewhat uninspiring 1:54.

"I think we are on target and he is getting a little better every week. He trained well this morning (Wednesday) and I couldn't be happier with him. He's sound and fresh," said Norman. "We've really never asked him to do more than he needs to. He doesn't have to peak now. We want him at his best in three weeks."

Amigo Volo starts from post 4 in the fourth race with Dexter Dunn in the bike. The gelded son of Father Patrick is owned by Pinske Stables and David J. Miller.

Norman also has a pair of trotting fillies racing on Friday in New Jersey Sire Stakes action at The Meadowlands. Beautiful Game and Easy Pass are listed at 9-2 and 8-1 on the morning-line respectively.

"Both are really nice fillies but I wouldn't call them top fillies," said Norman. "They are coming along. I like both and they are getting better with experience."