Pennington, NJ (My Sportsbook) - Former champion trotter Chocolatier has been retired from competition. The three-year-old will enter stud service at Southwind Farms in 2007.

Chocolatier is owned by the Ackerman family along with Southwind Farms and Lindy Farms. The Ackermans were the sole owners of the trotter when he was voted champion two-year-old male for 2005. Doug Ackerman was the trainer and his son, D.R., drove.

This past Saturday Chocolatier failed in the Kentucky Futurity at The Red Mile in Lexington, Kentucky. He finished sixth in the first elimination race for the second leg of trotting's Triple Crown.

Chocolatier won 14 of 23 lifetime starts for more than $1.3 million. Last year he earned $508,250 when winning the Breeders Crown, Bluegrass Stakes, American-National, Hayes Memorial, Review Stakes and Hanover Stakes.

This year Chocolatier won the World Trotting Derby and was second in the Hambletonian to Glidemaster.

When Southwind Farms purchased an interest in Chocolatier the new owner expressed excitement.

"We're excited to stand a horse of this caliber," said Southwind owners Connie and Allen Skolnick. "Chocolatier is certainly a worthy successor to our stallions Valley Victory and Artsplace."

Preferred Equine Marketing will manage the syndication of Chocolatier now that his racing career is completed.