by Jay Bergman, for the Hambletonian Society

Cranbury, NJ — The Hambletonian, to be raced for the 90th time on Saturday, has a rich family heritage. Page through the pedigrees of today’s finest horses and you can take a trip back in time and find the greatest trotters of the last century. Family means everything when it comes to equine pedigree and it means even more to those heavily invested in the sport.

Charlie Keller III, the recent Hall of Fame nominee, helped guide the fortunes of Yankeeland Farm, a breeding operation in Maryland begun by his father in 1955. Though the farm has closed operations, Keller hasn’t lost his urge to find a quality trotter and compete at the highest level. On Saturday, Muscle Diamond, a horse he owns in partnership with his son and nephews, is among 19 looking to capture the $1 million Hambletonian.

Nigel Soult photo

Muscle Diamond enters the Hambletonian with $344,994 in career earnings.

Ironically it was Keller that went back in time to pluck the yearling by Muscle Hill from the 2002 Hambletonian Oaks winning Windylane Hanover for $40,000 in the fall of 2013.

“I just fell in love with the pedigree,” said Keller. “I mean he had Yankeeland blood all over on both sides.”

On the dam’s side was Windylane Hanover, a daughter of Lindy Lane owned by Yankeeland and ironically a mare that was sold off. A close look at the production information surrounding Windylane Hanover lets you believe she was an absolute early failure as a broodmare.

“She actually had a foal that won a $100,000 race in Europe,” said Keller. “I believe that happened before this colt (Muscle Diamond) sold.”

Windylane Hanover had been bred to Andover Hall and his son Donato Hanover but the breeders elected to go with Muscle Hill and the combination has clicked.

“I loved Muscle Hill,” said Keller. “He’s got a tremendous amount of Yankeeland blood himself.”

Indeed Muscle Hill, the 2009 Hambletonian winner, is by the 1998 Hambletonian champion Muscles Yankee. Muscles Yankee was bred by Yankeeland and sold for $200,000 as a yearling. Hall of Famer Chuck Sylvester developed Muscles Yankee.

“We sold him as a yearling and then we bought shares in him after his racing career ended,” said Keller.

Yankee Blondie, a daughter of Yankee Bambi, is the dam of Muscle Hill. Yankee Bambi was a sister to Yankee Bambino, runner-up to Bonefish in the four-heat 1975 Hambletonian at Du Quoin. Yankee Bambino was named after the legendary Babe Ruth. Yankee Duchess, the dam of Yankee Bambi, was a foundation mare for Yankeeland Farms, producing for more than 20 years.

Trainer and part-owner Brett Bittle wasn’t overly excited when he first looked at Muscle Diamond prior to the yearling sale.

“There was nothing special about him,” Bittle said. “What impressed me was when I watched his video.”

Bittle, Keller’s nephew, was also the conditioner of Windylane Hanover when she won the Oaks in 2002.

“Ronnie (Pierce) gave her a great drive that day,” said Bittle, recalling the victory. Windylane Hanover had finished second in her elimination for the Oaks and her regular driver Mike Lachance opted for race favorite Cameron Hall for the final. Pierce had the mount behind the 25-1 Windylane Hanover and he worked out a perfect trip behind Cameron Hall to score the upset.

Unlike his dam Windylane Hanover, Muscle Diamond’s 3-year-old season has been anything but smooth to date. A runner-up to Pinkman in last year’s Breeders Crown, Muscle Diamond was expected to be among the elite 3-year-olds in North America this year.

Muscle Diamond was ready and on schedule but after his first start in New Jersey Sire Stakes action Bittle discovered an abscess in a hind foot that proved to be a minor setback. Then came a tendon injury while Muscle Diamond was out in a paddock that set the horse back another four weeks.

It’s hard to play catch up in the 3-year-old trotting ranks but when you have a horse with Muscle Diamond’s talent you just have to take the bumps and move forward and that’s what Bittle has done.

Finally going in the right direction Muscle Diamond made just his second start of the year on July 26 in the Zweig consolation at Vernon Downs. Hall of Fame pilot John Campbell put him on the front and the colt was a convincing 1:53.2 victor.

“John was very happy with the way he raced,” said Bittle of the Zweig.

While Campbell was a major part of the structure behind Muscle Diamond he won’t be able to drive the colt on Saturday. The Hall of Famer was injured in a qualifier on July 31 and will be sidelined.

“John’s been such a big part of this horse. It’s a shame he has to miss out,” said Bittle.

In his place will sit Tim Tetrick, a future Hall of Famer.

Tetrick’s assignment wasn’t made easy by the post draw as Muscle Diamond landed in the second $100,000 elimination on Saturday afternoon, race nine, and the post position nine.

Following are the fields for the Hambletonian eliminations in post order with drivers, trainers and morning line odds. The Hambletonian final is Race No. 13:

$1.2 million Hambletonian-$100,000 1st elim.-Race 8
HN-Post-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Donatomite, Trond Smedshammer, Trond Smedshammer, 15-1
2. The Bank, Johnny Takter, Jimmy Takter, 8-1
3. Workout Wonder, Daniel Dube, Ake Svanstedt, 12-1
4. Habitat, Brian Sears, Ron Burke, 6-1
5. Total Darkness, Tim Tetrick, Jonas Czernyson, 20-1
6. Fashion Creditor, David Miller, Tom Fanning, 20-1
7. Jacksons Minion, Tom Jackson, Tom Jackson, 30-1
8. Centurion ATM, Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, 9-2
9. Canepa Hanover, Jimmy Takter, Jimmy Takter, 3-1
10. Pinkman, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter, 8-5

$1.2 million Hambletonian-$100,000 2nd elim.-Race 9
HN-Post-Driver-Trainer-Line
1. Billy Flynn, Scott Zeron, Staffan Lind, 15-1
2. Mission Brief, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke, 6-5
3. Cruzado Dela Noche, Orjan Kihlstrom, Nancy Johansson, 20-1
4. Aldebaran Eagle, Corey Callahan, Jonas Czernyson, 20-1
5. Wings Of Royalty, Brian Sears, George Ducharme, 12-1
6. French Laundry, Brett Miller, Jimmy Takter, 4-1
7. Uncle Lasse, David Miller, Jimmy Takter, 5-2
8. Southwind Mozart, Ake Svanstedt, Ake Svanstedt, 20-1
9. Muscle Diamond, Tim Tetrick, Brett Bittle, 8-1