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.