Timo Deo, a Muscles Yankee colt who is the first foal of the multi-talented Queen Serene (1:51.4 - $748.746), rallied to win her $18,000 split in 2:00.2 for trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer. Muscle Mountain laid down fractions of :31.3, 1:01.4 and 1:31.4 before rolling off stride. Timo Deo drew away in the late stages, with Muscle Mountain settling for the runner-up award. Third prize went to Marion Mayday.
Purple Haze Stables LLC of Fairport, NY purchased the regally-bred youngster for $155,000 from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.
Corky, a son of Muscles Yankee out of the OSS graduate Clarice Marie, cruised to an easy victory in his $18,500 division for the colts and geldings. The Jimmy Takter pupil drew clear to win in maiden-breaking fashion in 1:59.1 over King Muscles and Team Zordin.
David Miller mapped out the winning trip for the half-brother to Go Go Red Marty (1:53.3 - $181,071). Christina Takter of East Windsor, NJ owns the rookie with John and Jim Fielding of Toronto, ON. They shelled out $100,000 to purchase the colt from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale.
The first division for the fillies went to Find The Magic, who got up in the final strides for a 1:58.1 score. Brian Sears rallied the daughter of Chocolatier to her second win in as many starts in the $20,000 tilt. Sent off as the second choice in the wagering, the Dane Snyder-trained miss hauled down the even-money favourite, Miss Steele, in the final strides. That foe was second best, with third prize going to Sturdy Muscles.
Thomas W King III of Valencia, PA owns the undefeated stakes winner who was a $17,000 purchase from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. She’s out of the mare Ally Hall, the a half-sister to the 2003 Hambletonian winner, Amigo Hall (1:54 - $1,046,905).
Lady Dynamite pulled off a 9-1 upset in the other division for the fillies thanks to her 1:59 score in come-from-behind fashion. Yannick Gingras carved out the winning trip for the daughter of Muscles Yankee-Enjoy N My Lady, who rallied to defeat Time To Kill and Southwind Cocoa.
Mark Harder trains the first-time starter for Chris Alexander Stbls Inc of Aurora and Stephen Palermo of Brampton, ON. She was purchased for a mere $11,000 from last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale.