Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Mr Muscleman Sets Record in Canada

June 4, 2005

Mr. Muscleman--Odds On Racing's Horse of the Month for June 2005--set a Canadian record Saturday night at Woodbine, trotting to an easy victory in a $60,000 division (US) of the Trotting Classic. Guided by Ron Pierce, Mr. Muscleman shadowed pacesetter Cash Hall throughout most of the mile, then pulled and brushed by to win by four lengths, in Canadian record time of 1:51.1, knocking a full second off the previous mile mark of 1:52.1, set at Woodbine by Dr. Ronerail in August 6, 2002. It was also a life mark for the champion trotter and his fifth win in six starts this year. He now has 25 career wins.

“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.”

Both the Breeders Crown and the Maple Leaf Trot will be contested at Mohawk Racetrack in Campbellville. The $960,000 Breeders Crown Trot (elims and final) are scheduled for August 27 and September 3, while the C$861,000 Maple Leaf Trot (elims and final) are scheduled for September 10 and 17.