from Meadowlands Media Relations

East Rutherford, NJ – Istanbul [$13.20, $5.60, $3.40] and Muscles Marinara [$3.40, $2.80, $2.60] each claimed victories in their respective $18,000 division of the opening leg of the Hiram Woodruff Series on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands.

In the third race, the first division, Istanbul, with driver Ron Pierce in the sulky, trotted a strong last quarter of 28 seconds and blew passed Donnegal [$4.40, $3.40] in the final strides to win by a length in a personal best of 1:54.4 for the mile.

It was a length back to Tuna Whip [$3.20] in third.

Trained by Jan Johnson, Istanbul scored his fifth win in his 13th start of the year and increased his lifetime earnings to $89,175 for the Arden Homestead Stable of Delhi, New York.

In the fifth race, the second division, Muscles Marinara took control of the lead on the backstretch and drew off to a three-length victory over Dream Alone [$3.60, $3.20] in a lifetime mark of 1:54.1 for the mile.

RTJ [$4.60] finished three lengths back in third.

Driven by Brian Sears and trained by Trond Smedshammer, Muscles Marinara increased his earnings to $110,705 for the Gandolfo Stables of Saddle River, New Jersey and Lenny Zelin of Franklin Lakes, New Jersey.

The son of Muscles Yankee has been first or second in six of 12 starts this year.

The three-week Hiram Woodruff Series continues with its second leg on May 16 and concludes with a $200,000 estimated final on May 23.

ALLEN RECOVERING FROM HIP SURGERY

Driver-trainer Carl Allen, hospitalized since a spill in qualifiers on April 30 at the Meadowlands, has been moved from Hackensack [NJ] University Medical Center to a rehab facility in Saddle Brook, New Jersey.

He underwent surgery to repair multiple pelvic fractures on May 5.

“He wants to go home [Ocala, Florida] which is understandable,” said Allen’s son, Rod, who was going to visit his father after driving in two races on Sunday afternoon at the Meadowlands. “They work him for an hour in the morning and an hour at night. He wants to be home so he can do more. He came out of surgery good, and if he has to undergo further therapy he can do it in Florida.

He will get better at his own pace. They only had to put three screws in and made four small incisions. They didn’t have to cut through a lot of muscles or ligaments so that should help.“

Carl Allen, 74, was driving the trotter Sandor Hanover when Bit By Bit, with Yannick Gingras in the sulky, got rough gaited and broke stride at the three-eighths pole of the third qualifying race on Friday, April 30 at the Meadowlands. Bit By Bit’s stumble resulted in a chain reaction that also impacted ENS Reconnaissance [Ron Pierce] and Windsong’s Legacy [Trond Smedshammer]. Only Allen required medical attention.