Hambo champ headed to Balmoral
August 25, 2009,by Tom Kelley, publicity director, Balmoral Park
Crete, IL — The 2009 Hambletonian champion and number one rated horse in North America, Muscle Hill, is headed to Balmoral Park for this Saturday’s $200,000 American-National Stake for 3-year-old trotting colts.
A $17,000 supplement to the race by owners Jerry Silva, TLP Stable, Southwind Farm and Muscle Hill Racing LLC is due to arrive in Crete Friday afternoon in preparation for Saturday’s main event.
Given a well deserved vacation after his record equaling 1:50.1 mile in the Hambo, trainer Greg Peck has pronounced his prized colt fit and ready to return after an easy victory in a qualifier at the Red Mile on Friday, August 21.
“They had some heavy rains the night before but the track crew did a great job of getting the water off the track for the qualifiers that morning,” said Peck. “He went without urging in 1:56.2 and I figure the track was at least three to four seconds off since it was like quicksand out there. That prep was perfect for him and I expect nothing but the best out of him in Saturday’s race.”
Muscle Hill will head into Saturday’s American-National with 13 wins in 14 lifetime starts and career earnings of more than $1.8 million.
Sophomore trotting fillies will also be in action on Saturday night as they square off for a purse of $180,000 in another American-National event.
Post time for the opener is 7:20 p.m. (CDT).