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CAMPBELLVILLE, September 17…It was billed as the Battle of the Sexes, the race of the year - a match between two Breeders Crown champions, Mr. Muscleman, North America’s top male trotter, and Peaceful Way, the continent’s best female trotter.
That was the hype leading to the 54th edition of the Maple Leaf Trot, which was offering a record purse of $918,500 to boot at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday night. It was also the richest field ever assembled for a harness race in Canada, with the 11 starters boasting career earnings of over $12 million.
So much for the hype. At the finish of the classic, it was all Mr. Muscleman, the defending Maple Leaf champion, a career earner of over $3.2 million and a track record holder at both Mohawk and Woodbine, as he bulled his way to an easy five and one-half length win in a stakes record mile of 1:52.1. Muscles Marinara came on for second, while Mystical Sunshine was third.
Meanwhile, Peaceful Way, a divisional champion in Canada at two and three and unbeaten in seven outings this year, gave it her best shot early, when she tried to chase Mr. Muscleman after he’d taken the lead before the half. But it ended early for the daughter of Angus Hall, as she made an uncharacteristic break and lost all chance.
With Ron Pierce at the controls, Mr Muscleman, who left from post nine, took over from Abbey Road C after the first quarter was reached in 27.4. While pressed by Elegant Man at the half, reached in 56 seconds, Mr Muscleman continued to motor, repelling all challengers. From there to the wire, it was a tour de force, as the giant gelding posted yet another romp on his impeccable resume.
“He’s been so good for so long,” said Pierce. “I had no idea what I was going to (leaving). I was just going to wait and see what everyone else was doing and make up my mind. As it turned out, we just floated out of there, let everybody settle in. Turning for home, I just waved the whip at him a little bit and he did the rest.”
Seven trotters had successfully defended their crowns in the Maple Leaf Trot, the last being No Sex Please in 1989-90. Make that eight after Mr Muscleman, who went postward a prohibitive 1-9 choice, completed his back-to-back triumphs.
As for Peaceful Way, “She got ultra-aggressive,” said driver Trevor Ritchie. “When I moved her, she tried to trot right out of her skin and made a break. She’s trotted out of her skin before, but it’s usually later in the mile when she’s more tired and not as keyed up.”
With the victory, his 12th in 14 outings this year, Mr Muscleman stated his case emphatically for Horse of the Year honours. Of course, he’ll likely have more competition for that honour than anything on-track, with the likes of Rocknroll Hanover, Vivid Photo and Classic Photo due strong consideration as well.
Mr. Muscleman picked up a purse of $459,250 for owners Adam Victor and Son Stable of New York, to push his career bankroll to almost $3.7 million, incredible considering he was only cost $2,000 as a yearling.
“Yeah, he was just awesome tonight,” said co-owner Adam Victor Jr. “All week long, (trainer) Mike Vanderkemp and (caretaker) P. J. (Fraley) told us that he was better this week than what he was before the Breeders Crown and he showed it tonight. Oh, he is a freak. Just from when he was two and a big, lanky trotter that would just trot, to now, he’s grown and is just a freak.”
Unfortunately, there was some confusion created at the start of the race, when the recall lights were momentarily activated at the start.
After lengthy deliberations, the Ontario Racing Commission judges ruled that, while the result remained official, mutuel refunds were in order for four of the Maple Leaf Trot competitors…Peaceful Way, Hellava Hush, Hez Striking and JM Vangogh, since their drivers stated that when they saw the recall lights, they reacted accordingly.
The refunds thus significantly impacted on the revised mutuels, as Mr Muscleman ultimately went off at 1-20 (or five cents on the dollar) after being listed at 1-5 as the field lined up behind the gate.
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