Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Mr Muscleman Wins Titan Cup Prep

June 22, 2007

Prior to the start of the racing card, Mr Muscleman picked up right where he left off before his trip to Sweden with a 1:55 win in the $40,000 prep race for Titan Cup eligibles. The seven horses in the non-wagering event, plus Corleone Kosmos and Sand Vic, will return for the $240,000 Titan Cup Final on Friday, June 29.

The field marched through the opening quarter in post position order, with Roger Hammer and Vivid Photo at the lead. However, Ron Pierce was not content to sit behind them for long and hustled Mr Muscleman to the top in a 58.2 half. Vivid Photo squeezed through along the inside, but Mr Muscleman held him off by a head in a 26.2 charge to the wire. Swan Image finished third, a length behind the leaders.

"Usually when you go in these sort of prep races, the leader usually wins them," said winning trainer Noel Daley. "[Vivid Photo] did just race last week, so I was happy to sit the two-hole tonight. It will be a different story when they're going for real money."

It was Mr Muscleman's first race back on U.S. soil after finishing second in Sweden's famed Elitlopp. The seven-year-old gelding has won 37 of 67 career starts and is four-for-six in 2007. Adam Victor & Son Stable of New York, York own the 2005 Trotter of the Year. Mr Muscleman is the sport's richest standardbred in training with a bankroll of $3.5 million in earnings.