from the Balmoral Park Publicity Department

Crete, IL — Freshman world champion Muscle Mass was dominant in Sunday night’s (September 16) $115,000 American-National stake championship for 2-year-old male trotters, finishing almost 10 lengths the best for driver Brent Holland. The overwhelming 1-5 favorite’s 1:56.1 winning mile was his second consecutive track record performance at Balmoral Park.

Balmoral Park photo

Muscle Mass (Brent Holland) was all by himself at the end of his track record mile in Sunday’s $115,000 American- National Championship.

The dominating victory extended the son of Muscle Yankee’s unbeaten streak to five in a row. Maxter, the 7-2 second choice, came on to be a distant second best to the Erv Miller trained winner, while the 40-1 longshot Viking Defender took third, two more lengths further back.

Atom Hall (Todd Warren) shot out from the nine-slot and grabbed the early lead, with the one horse Celebrity Phantom grabbing the pocket and Holland dropping Muscle Mass in the third slot. However after a soft :29.1 first quarter, Holland took Muscle Mass out and after the lead. They got there at the :58.3 half-mile marker.

Muscle Mass ($2.60) followed with a :29 third quarter and kept widening the margin in the lane, trotting a :28.3 final panel without any urging from Holland.

“We settled in pretty well and tonight I moved when I thought it was the right time,” said Holland. “He was feeling nice and strong. Last week that horse (Atomic Hall) kept us out but we beat him. I thought tonight he’d turn us loose. Once my horse cleared, this race was all over.”

Last month Muscle Mass became the fastest freshman trotter on a mile track with a 1:53.4 mile at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield and it came in only his second career start.

The $52,900 winner’s share of the purse almost doubled Muscle Mass‘ first season earnings to $160,000 for his New Jersey owners Perretti Racing Stable and Black Horse Racing.