by Nicole Kraft, communications director, U.S. Trotting Association

Lexington, KY — Undefeated world champion Muscle Mass rebuffed challenges from the left and the right, yet still came away a winner in the $90,500 third division of the International Stallion Stake for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Thursday at The Red Mile.

The son of Muscles Yankee, who trotted to a 1:53.4 mile-track record at Springfield in August, floated off the gate and sat outside leading Order By Lincoln as the field passed the first quarter in :28.2. Muscle Mass and driver Dave Palone moved steadily for the lead toward the :56 half, and was in control by the time the field hit three-quarters in 1:24.3.

Deep in the stretch Intimidator rolled alongside, while Holiday Credit challenged along the rail, but Muscle Mass dug in and was a half-length in front when they hit the wire in 1:54.2.

“I just wanted to float off the gate and find a spot,” said Palone, who drove the colt for trainer Erv Miller and owners Perretti Racing Stable and Black Horse Racing. “I let him ride to the front on his own.

“The main thing was his ears were up going past the wire. The sign of a true champion is he can take the pressure. I never felt they were going to go by him.”

It was Muscle Mass’ seventh win in as many starts, raising his lifetime earnings to $196,750.

Deweycheatumnhowe also remains unbeaten

Deweycheatumnhowe raised his record to a perfect six-for-six when he captured the final division of the International Stallion Stake in 1:54.2.

The 1-9 favorite made his move first-over after the :28.1 opening quarter and used a :27.4 second panel to take a comfortable lead by the :56 half. Deweycheatumnhowe rounded three-quarters in 1:26 and did not look back. Though Velocity Hall and Waterstone gave chase, they could get no closer than three lengths, as the son of Muscles Yankee crossed the wire in 1:54.2.

“He did it real easy,” said trainer-driver Ray Schnittker, who owns the colt with Ted Gewertz, Charles Iannazzo and the Deweycheatumnhowe Stable (Frank Baldassare, Alan Leavitt and Walnut Hall Ltd.). “He’s a really nice horse.”

Schnittker said Deweycheatumnhowe will be pointed next toward the Breeders Crown.

Surtees Hanover makes it back-to-back at Red Mile

Surtees Hanover proved his victory in last week’s Bluegrass was no fluke as he captured the second split of the International Stallion Stake in 1:55 for driver David Miller.

Di Manggio led the field to the first quarter in :28.3, while Surtees Hanover — who was wide going into the first turn — settled in third behind Stand Guard. Di Manggio took the field past the :57 second half, before Surtees Hanover went first-over and marched toward the lead as the field hit three-quarters in 1:26.1.

From there it was all Surtees Hanover, as the son of Andover Hall opened up three lengths in the lane and won in 1:55. Stand Guard was second and Lancer Springs third.

“I knew my horse, and he felt pretty strong,” said Miller. “I held him as long as I could before I really asked him to go.”

The win was the eighth in 10 starts for Surtees Hanover, who is trained by Jonas Czernyson and owned by Robert Rosenheim Stables.

Yankee Matthew is also a repeat winner

Favored Yankee Matthew and driver Dave Palone made a strong move heading to the half and did not look back, winning the first division of the International Stallion Stake for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at The Red Mile by two lengths in 1:56.

Longshot Minor Supernova at 99-1 took the lead off the gate, followed by Built By Lindy and ushered the field past the first quarter in :28.1. Yankee Gospel made the first move toward the :57.2 half, but was quickly outsprinted by Yankee Matthew, who trotted strongly past three-quarters in 1:26.3. He held off a late challenge by Over Ruled and Make It Happen to win by a half-length.

It was the second Grand Circuit win in a row for the son of Muscles Yankee and the American Winner mare Southwind Paradise, who last week fought a driving rainstorm to win a Bluegrass Stake division in 1:58.

“We really babied this colt and taught him to race,” said trainer Mark Harder, who co-owns the colt with Scott Kurzrok and Stable 45. “He loves to chase horses. You could see when he was in front he was a little lost. His ears were going and he didn’t know what it was all about.”

Harder said Yankee Matthew will next head to Woodbine for the Valley Victory Trot.