Muscle Massive wins the 2010 Hambletonian

August 7, 2010

The $1.5 million Hambletonian, celebrating its 85th renewal, is one of the world's most prestigious harness races, featuring the best 3-year-old trotters in North America going the standard 1 mile distance, 1 full lap of the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A full field of 10 lined up behind the starter on Saturday afternoon before 26,712 fans. Lucky Chucky was sent off as the 3-2 favorite for trainer Chuck Sylvester and driver John Campbell over 5-2 second choice Cassis, with Tim Tetrick in the bike for Ray Schnittker.

Holiday Road, who was third behind Lucky Chucky in his elimination heat, was the 5-1 third choice on the board.

Driver Tim Tetrick sent Cassis to the lead out of post 1 and he quickly opened up a 1 1/2 length advantage on the clubhouse turn. Ron Pierce tucked 6-1 Muscle Massive in behind him for the pocket trip, as Cassis set fractions of 27 1/5, 54 3/5, and 1:22 2/5 over the fast track. Lucky Chucky sat in fourth 4 lengths off the pace and one path outside of the pacesetter. Entering the stretch, John Campbell sent Lucky Chucky and he opened a clear lead at the 3/16 pole. However, Muscle Massive closed well through the stretch, passing the favorite in the final yards to win by 1/2 a length in 1:51. It was another 3 1/4 lengths back to 23-1 Wishing Stone third.
Results charts for the night

Muscle Massive in the winner's circle

Winning driver Ron Pierce said, "I knew when he warmed up nobody could beat him. The trip worked out great. Jimmy's done a great job with this horse. He told me last year we were aiming for one race this year."
Trainer Jimmy Takter added, "He was purchased as one of those perfect horses. We paid a lot of money for him as a baby and we looked him up and we knew he had great potential. As soon as I sat behind him, the first day, I knew he was special.

The Hambletonian, it's so tough to win it. You've got to have the horse that's sharp, week after week and this week was extremely tough because we've been dealing with hot weather every single day, it's tough on these young horses. Muscle  Massive is one of those horses that actually handles the heat pretty good."

Bar Slide wins the Hambletonian Oaks

The distaff counterpart to the Hambletonian is the $750,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old fillies. A full field of 10 went to post with Poof Shes Gone sent off as the 11-10 favorite over 3-1 Bar Slide and 9-2 Springtime Volo.

36-1 longest shot Fashion Feline was sent to the lead by driver Brian Sears and she set fractions of 27 and 54 4/5 over the first half mile while as many as 1 3/4 lengths in front of Bar Slide who stalked her in second.

Approaching the end of the backstretch, Tim Tetrick sent Bar Slide to the lead, through 3/4 in 1:24 1/5, and she opened up a 4 1/4 length lead at the 1/8 pole. 14-1 Ultimate Cameron, who had raced in third early, put in a late rally but was left with too much ground to make up as Bar Slide finished 1 1/2 lengths in front in 1:53 4/5. It was another 1/2 a length back to late-running Springtime Volo third, while favorite Poof Shes Gone raced in fourth early but broke stride at the 3/16 pole, finishing 8th.
Results charts for the night

Hambletonian Oaks trophy ceremony

Winning driver Tim Tetrick said, "I was happy to be following Brian (Sears and Fashion Feline) and wish I could have waited longer but I had to go. She's been really strong the last couple of times I've driven her.  She had to work hard and it was one of her best efforts. The last 1/8, my filly was tired and I'm glad I did try to jump two or three up and get ahead of them a little bit."
Trainer Joe Holloway added, "It felt like I was running, that's how long it took."

Thatsnotmyname wins the 2010 Merrie Annabelle Stakes

The $427,000 Merrie Annabelle Stakes features 2-year-old filly trotters. 20-1 Grace Marie was quickest away and opened up a 1 1/4 length lead through an opening quarter in 28 2/5 before breaking stride, allowing 1-5 favorite Thatsnotmyname to take over the lead. Thatsnotmyname set fractions of 57 4/5 and 1:26 3/5 with 67-1 longest shot Angelette Hanover stalking 1 1/4 lengths behind. Entering the stretch, Thatsnotmyname opened up a 2 1/4 length lead and easily held off late-running 50-1 Creme de Cocoa by 1 1/4 length for the win in 1:55.

It was another 3/4 length back to 10-1 Fitness Girl third.
Results charts for the night

Hypnotic Blue Chip wins the 2010 US Pacing Championship 1st Division

The U.S. Pacing Championship for older pacers was run in two $182,500 divisions this year. In the first division, 1-5 favorite Shark Gesture contested the early lead with 12-1 Annieswesterncard through a half in 53 3/5. Entering the stretch, 12-1 Hypnotic Blue Chip, who was 4th early, came out wide for the drive and easily passed the favorite to win going away by 2 lengths in a time of 1:47 2/5, a new world record for a 4-year-old pacer on a mile track.

It was another length back to 5-1 second choice Oliver Cleo third.

Winning trainer Kevin McDermott said, "Yesterday I was jogging him and he got scared by a scooter and dumped me out of the jog cart. I held on to the lines and he drug me about 25 feet. I didn't let go of the lines and here we are in the winner's circle today. We have the Haughton here next week and I just want to thank Fran Azur, the greatest owner that ever lived. Thank you so much."
Results charts for the night

Won the West wins the 2010 US Pacing Championship 2nd Division

In the second division, 7-1 Jeremy's Successor set the early pace of 25 4/5 and 52 4/5 while 1 3/4 lengths in front of 68-1 Corky Baran. The lead pair tired on the far turn, as 6-1 Bettor Sweet took over the lead while being chased by 11-10 favorite Vintage Master through 3/4 in 1:20 3/5. 5-2 second choice Won The West, followed by 20-1 Blueridge Western, came out wide into the lane to pass the tiring frontrunners.

Won the West finished 2 1/2 lengths in front of Blueridge Western in 1:48 1/5, and it was another 1/4 length back to Vintage Master third.

Winning driver David Miller said, "I let Danny (Dube, driving Vintage Master) get around me and I was third-over before he (Won The West) kicked in. I thought he would race good. He's a good horse who shows up every time, and he's a horse I appreciate."
Results charts for the night

Dancinwiththestarz wins the 2010 Mistletoe Shalee Stakes

The $275,000 Mistletoe Shalee Stakes featured a full field of 10 three-year-old filly pacers. Driver Brian Sears sent 7-1 Dancinwiththestarz to the lead after 1/4 mile set by 89-1 Rock N Soul in 27 1/5. She opened a 1 1/4 length lead down the backstretch and the pair ran 1-2 the rest of the way through fractions of 55 and 1:21 2/5, with Dancinwiththestarz finishing up 1 3/4 lengths in front of Rock N Soul in 1:48 4/5, a new world record time for a 3-year-old filly pacer on a mile track.

It was another 2 1/2 lengths back to 30-1 A and Gs Princess, while 1-5 favorite Put On A Show disappointed in 6th.

Winning driver Brian Sears said, "I thought I needed to be up close, getting on Put On A Show's back. I moved her to the front, got some pretty soft fractions and the filly's just been getting better and better. It was a tremendous effort and what she did today with the track record, it's very impressive. Last week (second in the eliminations) I think was the best mile she ever put in in her life and she came back to this today."
Results charts for the night

Slave Dream wins the 2010 Nat Ray Stakes

A field of ten older trotters contested the $300,000 Nat Ray Invitational. 11-1 Reven Damour took over the lead on the clubhouse turn and set fractions of 55 2/5 and 1:23 1/5 while 1 1/4 lengths in front of 7-10 favorite Enough Talk. Entering the stretch, 7-1 Slave Dream came out for room to pass the pacesetters, defeating Enough Talk by a neck in 1:52. It was another 2 1/4 length back to Reven Damour third.

Winning driver John Campbell said, "At the start he was off stride and he landed trotting and I ended up down at the rail. I really didn't have any decisions to make because I was locked in the whole mile, just kept poking up the rail and fortunately it worked out. Halfway through the stretch I could get through and he responded very well, made up a lot of ground, and trotted a great mile considering where he started from."
Results charts for the night

Delmarvalous wins the 2010 Oliver Wendell Holmes 2nd Division

The Oliver Wendell Holmes Stakes for 3-year-old pacing males was run in two $115,500 divisions. In the first division, 3-10 favorite Rock N Roll Heaven set early fractions of 53 3/5 and 1:21 2/5. Entering the stretch 6-1 Rockin Image, who was 5th early, came out for room and pulled alongside the favorite at the 3/16 pole setting up a duel to the line. The pair battled through the stretch, and Rockin Image prevailed by a head in 1:48 2/5.

It was a long 3 1/4 lengths back to 9-1 BG's Folly third.

Winning driver Yannick Gingras said, Last week "I had to use him early (in the Delvin Miller Adios Final). That's not his game. If I can save him he's a lot better."
Results charts for the night

On The Glass wins the 2010 Lady Liberty Stakes

In the second division, 3-5 favorite One More Laugh was allowed an uncontested lead of 1 1/4 length through fractions of 26 4/5, 53 3/5, and 1:21 1/5 with 5-1 third choice Delmarvalous stalking him in second. Entering the stretch, driver Brian Sears moved Delmarvalous out for room and he closed with a rush to pass the favorite inside the 1/8 pole to win by 1 1/4 length in 1:48 2/5. It was another 3/4 length back to 3-1 second choice Valentino third.

Winning driver Brian Sears said, "It was nice to get a two-hole trip like that. My horse is aggressive and I need to get him to relax. I can't say enough about George (Teague, Jr., trainer) He's a great guy."
Results charts for the night

The $248,000 Lady Liberty Stakes featured a full field of 10 older distaff pacers. 9-2 third choice On The Glass took over the lead on the backstretch, setting fractions of 53 2/5 and 1:21 4/5. She opened a 2 1/2 length lead in mid-stretch, easily holding off the late-running 5-2 second choice Tug River Princess by 1 3/4 length in 1:49. It was another 2 1/4 length back to 7-5 favorite Dreamfair Eternal third.

Winning driver Yannick Gingras said, "She's been really good all year. I told Ronny (trainer Burke) 'if I can put her on the front I don't think she can be caught.' To be honest, I knew I was a winner at the 5/8 (pole). I just tried to take it easy around the final turn."
Results charts for the night