Muscle Hill Dominates Breeders Crown 2-Year-Olds
World Record Falls As Muscles Yankee Son Wins BC Colt Trot
Dec 21, 2008
Deweycheatumnhowe dominated three-year-old trotters this season before a limiting illness caught up to him in the Breeders Crown races November 29. Two-year-old trotters got the same treatment on the year from another Muscles Yankee son, Muscle Hill.
A sound Muscle Hill went on to a victorious division world record performance in the BC Two-Year-Old Colt Trot championship. Muscle Hill flew over the mile in 1:53.3 in the final at the Meadowlands course in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Brian Sears Gives Muscle Hill a Heads Up
In Thoroughbred and Standardbred horse racing, the tank is seldom emptied in one performance. A jockey, or a driver doesn't let his charge run all out in one race. Sometimes, however, a heads up run is needed to prevail in a test that proves harder than the rest.
Brian Sears, driving Muscle Hill in his BC final, opted for such an effort against a talented field, in particular, unbeaten Explosive Matter. Muscle Hill responded explosively. Grabbing the lead at the quarter pole, the colt never looked back on his way to a convincing three-length win.
The victory made Muscle Hill the number one colt to beat in next season's premier races, including the Hambletonian. Trainer Greg Peck and owners Jerry Silva and TLP Stable hope to bring Muscle Hill full circle to the big one in 2009.
Federal Flex went third in the $700,000 Two-Year-Old Colt Trot. Muscle Hill moved his record to eight wins in nine starts, with $817,301 stuffed in his bankroll.
Honorable Daughter Takes BC Filly Trot
John Campbell wanted to play it conservative with Honorable Daughter first-over in the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Filly Trot. The filly wanted to run hard with her competitors, who dropped back one by one before the final push.
Honorable Daughter refused to die in the final yards when pursued gamely by Yursa Hanover. Campbell's charge got the wire by a nose. She finished in 1:55.3 to claim the winner's purse in the $700,000 BC race.
Well Said Captures Two-Year-Old Colt Pace
In the fast time of 1:51 flat, Well Said traveled the oval to victory in the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Colt Pace with Ron Pierce in the bike. Betting choice Major In Art battled early with Captain Sir and consequently faded late, giving Well Said his chance to shine.
Well Said scored for the fifth time in 12 starts and upped his earnings to $586,688. The colt is trained by Steve Elliott and owned by Jeff Snyder, as well as Susan Grange's Lothlorien stable.
Fox Valley Topaz Kicks to Two-Year-Old Filly Pace Win
David Miller driving Fox Valley Topaz went fourth in the Breeders Crown elimination race for two-year-old pace fillies. The duo kicked in late to find the wire first.
It was another gutsy late kick to the winner's circle in the $700,000 final as Topaz overcame Twist N Clout driven by legendary biker John Campbell. Topaz won for the 10th time in 15 starts for trainer-owner Ken Rucker, and has earned $628,880.
