There are generally bumps on the road to the Hambletonian. Even if few may have thought that the leading candidate would experience any, Maryland made an unexpected break in stride in his second Meadowlands qualifier on May 31 before recovering his gait to finish the mile. Trainer Marcus Melander is generally not one to get too excited or stressed and entered Maryland for his first start of the season in the Empire Breeders Classic at Vernon Downs on Friday afternoon (June 13). "It rained the night before and was going to rain again, so they had the track screened and it was hard," said Melander. "That's the only thing I can think of as to why he would make a break. "He's come back fine, and he feels great. Dexter (Dunn) was happy with the way he finished his mile." Melander knows that to be ready for the Hambletonian Maryland will need some races. "I don't think he's ready to be at 100 percent. He needs races, they are not the same as qualifiers," Melander said. Maryland drew post five in the first of two Empire Breeders Classic divisions (race eight) for 3-year-old male trotters. He'll meet stablemate Super Chapter and three others, including Dexter Cup champion Hard Seven in this division. "They didn't go fast fractions but Super Chapter finished strong," said Melander of the $550K career earner's New York Sire Stakes victory at Vernon on May 26. "That was a solid mile off just one qualifier. He's a great horse, too." Super Chapter had a solid juvenile campaign as well and has started his sophomore season in good form. On Friday there will be a driver change since Dunn, his regular pilot, is committed to Maryland. "Scott Zeron will drive him," Melander said. Super Chapter, like Maryland and the entire Empire Breeders Classic division, are sons of Chapter Seven. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter Variegated, another by Chapter Seven, has been a pleasant surprise for Melander this year. Variegated has won a pair of stakes races in advance of the Empire Breeders Classic, scoring in the Bunker Hill at Plainridge on May 15 and then a New York Sire Stakes event in a career best 1:52 3/5 mile here at Vernon Downs. "He was a good horse last year," said Melander of Variegated. "He didn't show the speed some of the others, so we kept him on the half-mile tracks and New York Sire Stakes. He did win the final but that was a little bit of luck. "This year he's a bit faster," said Melander of Variegated, who drew post three among six in the $89,000 division carded as race 10. Variegated will have competition in the form of Monserrate (post two). Last year's Valley Victory champion was a solid second in his season's debut versus Super Chapter in a New York Sire Stakes division on May 26 at Vernon. Racing from off- the-pace after slow fractions, Monserrate trotted home in 27 seconds in his sophomore debut. Trainer John Butenschoen will send out Chat Room in just his third start of the year. Chat Room enters the Empire Breeders Classic following a solid 1:52 3/5 win at the Meadowlands on June 6. He starts from post four. Melander has mapped out a course for both Maryland and Super Chapter, and the two could meet up again at the Meadowlands in July and August but likely not before then. "We will come back with Maryland again for the Zweig (July 3)," said Melander. "Super Chapter will go in the Yonkers Trot (eliminations if needed are on June 20)." Both Maryland and Super Chapter are eligible to the Stanley Dancer, the final prep at the Meadowlands for the Hambletonian. The Friday afternoon Vernon program is stakes-filled with a pair of Empire Breeders Classic events for sophomore trotting fillies (races seven and nine) and two New York Sire Stakes races (five and six) for sophomore pacing colts and geldings. The 11-race program has a first post at 12:15 p.m. (EDT).