by Ken Weingartner, USTA Media Relations Manager

East Rutherford, NJ — Muscle Diamond got a second-over trip behind Gural Hanover around the final turn before surging to the lead in the stretch to win Saturday’s (Aug. 4) $30,000 Vincennes open trot by a neck over Satin Dancer in 1:51 over a track labeled sloppy because of morning rain at The Meadowlands.

Lagerfeld was third.

Lisa photo

Muscle Diamond won the Vincennes open trot in a time of 1:51.

Muscle Diamond, who raced without shoes, was fifth through the first half of the race before making his move with driver Andy McCarthy following a battle up front between Gural Hanover and favorite Obrigado.

“There were some nice horses in there,” winning trainer Brett Bittle said. “I’ve never pulled his front shoes off, and I was worried about the track today doing it. I’ve pulled his back shoes off quite often and it’s seemed to agree with him. I know he won today but it didn’t look like it really agreed with him. I didn’t think he was gaited that great, but he got it done.”

Muscle Diamond is a 6-year-old stallion owned by Charles Keller III, Charles Keller IV, Dan Bittle and Brett Bittle. The son of Muscle Hill-Windylane Hanover has won 14 of 46 races and $720,099 in his career.

Obrigado, a former Dan Patch Award-winner, finished fourth. Pinkman, the 2015 Hambletonian winner, was fifth.

Muscle Diamond paid $6.00, $3.80 and $2.80. Satin Dancer returned $13.80 and $6.60. Lagerfeld paid $3.40.