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Reminders:
Feb 9 - Directors Meeting
Feb 23 - Insurance Meeting
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“HILL” MUSCLES HIS WAY INTO HAMBLETONIAN FINALMANALAPAN, NJ – August 2, 2009 – Trainer Greg Peck, rarely at a loss for words, did not want to speak about his Hambletonian plans until Muscle Hill made the $1.5 million final on August 8.
Muscle Hill, a son of New Jersey super stallion Muscles Yankee, accomplished that feat with a two and three-quarter-length victory in 1:52.3 on August 1 at the Meadowlands in the last of three $70,000 elimination races.
Muscle Hill with Brian Sears
"Yeah we’re ready to go," said Peck after the victory. "Operation Hambletonian as I keep calling it. It’s been trying at times because you know we really wanted to get in tonight, we had to wait until the last elimination. People would call me and ask me to talk to them and that – you know, it’s still a horse race. You never know what the ending is going to be. It’s not like the movies where the guy’s going to get the girl."
The top three from each elim plus the fourth-place colt with the highest overall earnings gained spots in the final. Federal Flex, another son of Muscles Yankee and one of the leading contenders, was that fourth-place finisher and barely made the cut.
In addition to two by Muscles Yankee, New Jersey will be represented by sons of Revenue [Hot Shot Blue Chip] and Yankee Glide [The Chancellor].
"He was always good at [racing off the pace] last year," winning driver Brian Sears said of Muscle Hill. "After last week, leaving hard from the rail and being aggressive early, I was glad to remind him that we can race off the pace and he did it well. I didn't want anything silly to happen and just eased my way around the first turn. I thought Explosive Matter was very good tonight. It's going to be a horse race [next week], there's no doubt."
It was the 12th straight victory in 13 lifetime starts for Muscle Hill who has banked $1,072,376. His only loss was by a neck to Homer Jay in his pari-mutuel debut on July 3, 2008 in a New Jersey Sire Stakes division. He would bounce back the next week to win the $175,000 NJSS Final and collect eight victories before being crown Two-Year-Old Trotter of the Year.
The Peck trainee has captured the $185,250 Stanley Dance Memorial and $200,000 New Jersey Sire Stakes Championship among his four wins in 2009.
The son of 1998 Hambletonian winner Muscles Yankee is vying to become the third freshman Dan Patch champion in as many years to win the Hambletonian and Trotter of the Year honors. He could join Donato Hanover (2007) and Deweycheatumnhowe (2008).
Muscle Hill is owned by Jerry Silva of Long Beach, NY; Lou and Tom Pontone’s TLP Stable of Kearny, NJ; Southwind Farm of Pennington, NJ, and the 18 individuals or farms that make up Muscle Hill Racing of Long Beach, NY.
In the Hambletonian elim won by Muscle Hill, it was two and three-quarter lengths back to Triumphant Caviar [SJ’s Caviar]. New Jersey-sired The Chancellor by Yankee Glide was third.
Explosive Matter captured the first of the three elimination races in 1:52.3, overcoming a van mishap the previous day.
He was returning home from a training session in the pool on Friday morning when his trailer encountered another vehicle on a narrow country road and overturned. The colt, who was traveling with his caretaker Emma Pettersson, came out of the accident with minor scrapes.
Explosive Matter, driven by Ron Pierce, opened up on the final turn and held off Hot Shot Blue Chip [Revenue] by a length and a half in the seventh race. Reinsman Hanover [Andover Hall] was a distanced third.
Explosive Matter with Ron Pierce
"Yesterday he spent an hour in a ditch in the trailer," trainer Noel Daley said. "The trailer went off the road and the horse went down. We couldn't get him out for about an hour, but he came out of it pretty good. He was pretty hot when he came out of there. It was a pretty warm day, but he was pretty relaxed. He ate up [all his food] last night and this morning. We gave him a jog this morning to make sure everything was all right and he seemed pretty good."
The son of Cantab Hall, bred and owned by Adam Victor & Son Stable of New York, NY, improved his record to three wins in five starts this season and has finished in-the-money in all 11 career outings.
Symphonic Hanover, sent off at 15-1 odds, and driver David Miller pulled off an upset in the second of the eliminations with a game first over effort
Symphonic Hanover with David Miller
Symphonic Hanover drew off to three-length victory to provide trainer Jonas Czernyson with this second Hambletonian finalist this year, along with Hot Shot Blue Chip.
The son of Cantab Hall, first or second in seven of 10 lifetime starts, was a $65,000 yearling purchase by the Symphonic Hanover Stable of Delray Beach, FL.
Two sons of Credit Winner finished second and third, respectively, Judge Joe and Calchips Brute.
--All photos by Lisa Photo Inc.
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