Holiday Road sparkled in his three-year-old debut with a hard-fought victory over Muscle Massive in the $80,900 Dickerson Cup Friday night at the Meadowlands Racetrack.

Holiday Road and driver Brian Sears sat third in the early part of the mile as Muscle Massive (Ron Pierce) and Pilgrims Chuckie (Mike Lachance) each took turns at the controls. Holiday Road came first up to seize command mid-way down the backstretch and was quickly met with the challenge of Muscle Massive to his outside. The two colts matched strides through the lane, but Holiday Road simply would not fold, holding on to win by a head in a career best 1:52.4. Temple Of Doom (Dave Miller) was two lengths behind them in third.

“There’s nothing like a race under the belt,” Sears said. “He was a little excited early. He’s excited to be out here racing again. I moved him to the front and he raced really well. It was a really game effort and I’m very happy with him. Muscle Massive had every right to go by him, considering it was his first start [of the season], but my horse fought back. It was a big first for him.”

Holiday Road is campaigned by the connections of 2009 Hambletonian champion and Horse of the Year Muscle Hill: driver Brian Sears, trainer Greg Peck and owners Jerry Silva and Thomas and Louis Pontone [TLP Stable]. Mike Gulotta's Deo Volente Farm purchased an interest in the colt in March, while Arthur Pronti and Patricia Bolte’s Four Friends Racing Stable completes the ownership group. Holiday Road earned $312,350 and won three of six starts last season, including a 1:54 stakes record in the Peter Haughton Memorial. The son of Yankee Glide-Jambo is a full brother to Ken Warkentin, the 2004 two-year-old Trotting Colt of the Year (named for the Meadowlands’ track announcer).

“Tonight, he showed a new dimension,” said trainer Greg Peck. “He’s never gotten into a horse race like that in his life. He had three qualifiers, but he’s been off a long time, so tonight’s win feels good.”