Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Mr. Muscleman began his life in the lush, green pastures at Brittany Farms in Versailles, Kentucky besides his dam, the Meadow Road (6, 1:54.2M, $362,950) mare Meadowbranch Irene (2, Q 2:04.4Q). His sire was the mighty Hambletonian winner Muscles Yankee (3, 1:52.2M, $1,424,938), a son of the great Valley Victory (3, 1:55.3M, $485,307) and mare Maiden Yankee, 3, 1:59.4 ($188,722).

As a freshman, Mr. Muscleman began racing in late May at the Poconos before heading to New Jersey to compete in Sires Stakes action. Prone to making breaks early in his career, he also showed signs of high speed at the time as well. He scored his first lifetime win on July 28 at the Meadowlands with driver Ron Pierce in the sulky, trotting in 1:59. He went on to record for more wins that season, including his final victory at Lexington in the $81,000 Bluegrass Stakes which he won by four lengths in 2:02.3 for Pierce and trainer Noel Daley.

As a sophomore in 2003 Mr Muscleman began to show his true colors. He won a qualifier at the Meadowlands on May 10 in 1:55.1 and then won his first two starts--legs of the New Jersey Sires Stakes. He next won his Dancer elmiinatino, but was second in the $412,000 Final on July 11, 2003. His next big victory came in the $972,545 Canadian Trotting Derby on September 20, one week before capturing a $94,680 Kentucky Futurity Division in 1:53.4. He then won the $189,360 Final in 1:53.3 and a few days later took the $85,900 Translvania Stakes. In mid-October he easily won his Breeders Crown elimination, then captured the rich $585,000 Breeders Crown final in 1:54.2 He wrapped up his three-year-old campaign with a 8-4-2 record form 17 starts and $1,178,115 in earnings. He was also christened Three-Year-Old Male Trotter of the Year for 2003.

At four Mr. Muscleman would be named the 2004 Dan Patch Older Trotter Of the Year en route to a season that saw him earn $593,323 while winning seven of 14 starts. Among his top victories were the $662,970 Maple Leaf Trot in September in Canada and the $235,000 American National Stake on November 6 at Balmoral Park. That last victory was timed in 1:53.1 and saw him sprint away from his rivals by over five lengths.

In 2005 Mr Muscleman has been nothing short of spectacular, winning his $50,000 Su Mac Lad elimination on April 3 in 1:53.3, an open at the Big M in 1:53.2 on April 29, and a $40,000 Cutler elimination in 1:54.2 on May 13. He went on to capture the $180,000 Cutler Final by a nose over Sand Vic on May 21. Most recently, he captured a $60,000 division of the Canadian Trotting Classic on June 4 at Woodbine, with regular pilot Ron Pierce in the sulky. The time of 1:51.1 was not only a new life mark for Mr. Muscleman, but was also a Canadian record, knocking a full second off the previous mile mark of 1:52.1 set by Dr. Ronerail (August 6, 2002).

“I just wanted to take the race as it came, see what happens and play my hand from there,” said Pierce. “There was no doubt in my mind anywhere in the race that I wasn’t going to be the winner. The horse felt very good. He could have went a lot more (faster).”

“We're so pleased,” added co-owner Adam Victor Jr. of New York. “ When we got him as a two-year-old, we didn’t know what we had. But he’s just grown year in and year out . We’re so blessed right now to have this horse. He’s going to ship back down to the Meadowlands tomorrow and remain there until Hambo day. He’s got the Titan Cup, the Classic Series final, the Nat Ray, then right back up here in Canada for the Breeders Crown and the Maple Leaf.”

Mr. Muscleman Race Record Through June 6, 2005
Year   Starts   Wins   2nds 3rds    Money Won       Age/Record          Track/Date of Record
2005      6        5      1       0      $224,560        5, 1:51.1M          WDB     06/03/2005
2004     14      7      5        0      $593,323        4, 1:53.1M          BMLP   11/06/2004
2003     17       8      4        2      $1,178,115      3, 1:53.3M         LEX      09/27/2003
2002     11       5      3        1      $114,999         2, 1:59.0M          M        07/24/2002
Total     48      25     13       3      $2,220,997      5, 1:51.1M