by Paul Ramlow, USTA Internet News Manager

Columbus, OH — Hambletonian champion Muscle Hill won a qualifying race in 1:56.2 on Friday afternoon (August 21) at The Red Mile.

With trainer Greg Peck in the sulky, the Muscles Yankee-Yankee Blondie sophomore went right to the front from post five on the track rated “good” and cut fractions of :30, :58.1, and 1:28 before coming home in a final quarter of :28.2 to score in 1:56.2. Muscle Hill scored by eight lengths over the 5-year-old stallion Claudius Augustus, driven by Charlie Norris.

The Friday qualifier was Muscle Hill‘s first action since winning the Hambletonian on August 8. He is scheduled to race next Saturday, August 29, in the American-National at Balmoral Park.