Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

$100,900 Dygert Won by Muscles Marinara

June 18, 2005

30-1 Longshot wins in wire-to-wire fashion for Tony Morgan
Muscles Marinara surprised everyone by winning the $100,900 Dygert Trot in 1:54.1 with Tony Morgan at the lines as a 30-1 longshot. It was the fifth winner on the evening's card for the 47-year-old Morgan and the first win of the year for the five-year-old altered son of Muscles Yankee. He returned $63.20 on a two dollar win ticket. Muscles Marinara pushed his career earnings to just over $263,000 with the vicctory. The gelding is trained by jessica Stevens for The Gandolfo Stables and Lenny Zelin of New Jersey.

“I’m really surprised,” said trainer Jessica Stevens. I was hoping that he would do well but I never really expected this. I’ve only had him a couple of weeks. I was working for trainer Pete Wrenn at Hoosier and when they owners gave him the horse to train, he passed it on to me. He said I needed a good horse to train. He called me right after the race. He couldn’t believe it. In fact, his wife called me when I was still in the winner’s circle.
“I was a little disappointed after the last race after the way he faded late but Tony (driver Morgan) told me he got hit in the head with a whip and that’s why he slowed down. He liked this horse.”

"I told Tony that I couldn’t go back home unless we finished at least third and he just looked at me and said ‘How about a win’? I guess he wasn’t joking. This is my biggest win ever. I’ve been training about three years but it’s probably been over a year since I had my last win and I’ve never won anything like this.”

The History
The race is named in honor of Erwin F. Dygert, the founder of Suburban Downs and Aurora Downs. Dayan won the first two $35,000 editions of the race, in 1970 and 1971, with driver W. Myer in the bike. It was raised to $37,850 the following year and it wasn't until 1991 that the purse $100,000. Eliminations were raced for the first time in 1996 with nine finalists. The eventual winner was Federal Yankee.

Last Year
Hunt M Down, with Eric Ledford in the bike, won the 2004 edition of the Dygert Trot. He beat 3-5 shot Upalazyriver, covering the mile in 1:54. Two members of last year’s Dygert raced in this year’s edition. Dink Adoo--who finished sixth in 2004--placed in last Friday’s Elimination while Mr Mackintosh, fourth in last year’s Dygert, finished fifth.