Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Bay Horse, 3 , 1:51M ($995,192)
By Muscles Yankee-Graceful Touch-Pine Chip
Foaled May 14, 2007 at Creme Ridge, New Jersey at Perretti Farms
Owned by Brixton Medical AB, Order By Stable, Louie J Camara, MKatz, Aliebfeld, Sgoldband
Trained by Jimmy Takter & driven by Ron Pierce Bred by Perretti Farms

Muscle Massive was given a perfect steer by driver Ron Pierce and rallied past favored Lucky Chucky to capture the $1.5 million Hambletonian in 1:51, the second fastest clocking in the storied race’s history.

The son of Muscles Yankee showed sharp early speed getting in behind pacesetter Cassis in the early stages. With Cassis dictating fractions of :27.1, :54.3 and 1:22.2, Pierce sat chilly in the pocket. Favored Lucky Chucky made a big move on the final turn and secure the lead into the homestretch for driver John Campbell. The two trotters locked in a spirited duel in the stretch with Muscle Massive edging by to win by a half length. Wishing Stone rallied well for third.

“When I scored him down, I said they are not going to beat him today,” said Pierce after the victory.

“The trip worked out great,” he added. “Jimmy’s done a great job with this horse,” he said referring to trainer Jimmy Takter.

“The horse raced his heart out,” John Campbell said of runner-up Lucky Chucky. “The race went as I expected. What made all the difference was that the trailing horses couldn’t keep up, so that made it too easy for Muscle Massive.”

Muscle Massive scored for the fourth time in eight sophomore starts and pushed his lifetime bankroll just $5,000 south of the $1 million mark. He is owned internationally by Brixton Medical Ab and Order by Stable of Sweden as well as Louie Camara, Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and Sam Goldband, all of Ontario. For Takter, who earlier in the day sent out Muscle Massive’s younger half-sister Thatsnotmyname to victory in the Merrie Annabelle, the victory was sweet.

“This is a race everyone dreams of winning,” Takter said. “I loved this horse from the beginning. Last week we knew he wasn’t going to be at his best, but he was today.”

Pilgrims Taj, an elimination winner last week, was hopelessly boxed in from the first turn until midstretch and rallied for the fourth spot while Temple Of Doom trailed most of the trip and rallied for the final check.

The winner, sent off at 6-1, returned $15 to win.

Muscle Massive's Career Statistics as of August 8, 2010
Year   Starts/Wins/2nds/3rds    Earnings     Record
2010       8      4        2        1     $969,665    3, 1:51.0M M 08/07/2010
2009       6      2     1       1     $25,527      2, 1:57.0M Lex 09/10/2009
Total      14      6        3        2     $995,192     3, 1:51.0M