by Rich Fisher, for the Meadowlands publicity department

East Rutherford, NJ — Thomas Pontone is thoroughly enjoying this week, even if it is much different than a year ago as he awaited Muscle Hill’s bid to win the Hambletonian. Pontone, who is among the owners of Holiday Road in this year’s final, saw Muscle Hill win the 2009 Hambletonian by six lengths in a world record-equaling performance.

The catch was: Muscle Hill had to win. He always had to win. The colt completed an undefeated season, a perfect 12-for-12, and was voted Horse of the Year.

This week, as Pontone and company bring Holiday Road to Saturday’s $1.5 million Hambletonian at the Meadowlands, there are no such expectations. Or, shall we say, demands.

“I’d love to re-live last year in hindsight, knowing the results,” Pontone said with a laugh. “I would go in a lot easier, because you can enjoy it more. But we would go in races and so amped up, because of so much pressure of him having to win, and win big.

“Last year, (Muscle Hill) was by far much more superior than any other challenger. I didn’t want to be cocky, but last year I went into the race not thinking he would win, but thinking how many lengths he would win by. And if we didn’t win by six or seven lengths, people would ask ‘What’s wrong?’ We won (the World Trotting Derby) with an apprentice driver by a length and when we went into the winner’s circle, everyone was concerned.”

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Trainer Greg Peck is looking for a second straight Hambletonian triumph with Holiday Road.

Holiday Road, who is trained by Greg Peck and driven by Brian Sears, just like Muscle Hill, was 2-for-2 this year going into the Hambletonian eliminations, where he finished third behind Lucky Chucky and Mystery Photo.

The owners of Holiday Road are Pontone’s TLP Stable (with his dad, Louis), Jerry Silva, Four Friends Racing Stable and Deo Volente-Peck Stable. It is primarily the same group that owned Muscle Hill, but the similarities end there.

“The best way I can describe it is this year there’s a lot more horses that are closer in ability where you can have any horse win a race any week,” Pontone said. “Hopefully he does very well. I think he has a good shot to win it. If he doesn’t, he could still show well. This year we go into every race not knowing who may win it.

“So this year, I can just enjoy it. If he wins, great. If he doesn’t win, hopefully we still get a check. He’s still a little green, stuff like that. We had a couple issues (at the eliminations), but we’re not worried about it. We talked with Greg and cleared up some of the issues. He’ll be fine this week.”

In his elimination, Holiday Road got to the front in a :27.3 second opening quarter-mile and held the top spot until the top of the stretch when Lucky Chucky caught him with a first-over move.

“The trip went very well, the horse wasn’t good enough,” the trainer said after the race. “I’ll have to think about (this week’s training) but he got stung the first quarter. He had a good enough middle half that he should have won and he didn’t.

“He has a very good chance (this week). Brian was happier with him than I was, let’s hope he’s right.”

Sears was cautiously optimistic after the elimination.

“I was pleased with the effort,” Sears said. “I would have liked to have won, but the horse trotted good, it just felt like he got outstepped the last eighth of a mile. He still had trot, but was sort of outsprinted. He’s a big strong horse. He might have needed the race, also. I’m still feeling pretty positive going in (to the final) and with a little racing luck, I think we’ll be OK. This horse on his best day can definitely win it.”

Despite the fact Muscle Hill dominated more than Holiday Road, Pontone is comfortable with his spot heading into the Hambletonian final.

“Muscle Hill was speed and heart, and the competition is more level this year,” Pontone said. “I would say there’s five or six horses with a legitimate shot to win.

“Last year was last year, this year is just different. I would love to live it again, would love to win it every year. I think that Holiday Road is still a good horse.”

Good enough to provide potential without providing his connections with pressure.

Hambletonian, Race 10, Post Time 3:43 p.m. (EDT), Live on NBC
Post-Horse-Driver-Trainer-Morning Line
1. Cassis, Tim Tetrick, Ray Schnittker, 7-2
2. Lucky Chucky, John Campbell, Chuck Sylvester, 5-2
3. Pilgrims Taj, Mike Lachance, Trond Smedshammer, 9-2
4. Mystery Photo, Andy Miller, Julie Miller, 10-1
5. Wishing Stone, George Brennan, Dewayne Minor, 12-1
6. Muscle Massive, Ron Pierce, Jimmy Takter, 8-1
7. On The Tab, Daniel Dube, Jimmy Takter, 15-1
8. Hard Livin, Yannick Gingras, Jimmy Takter, 15-1
9. Temple Of Doom, David Miller, Jonas Czernyson, 15-1
10. Holiday Road, Brian Sears, Greg Peck, 6-1

Owners: 1. Cassis, Ray Schnittker, Kelk’s Inc., Arden Homestead Stable, Jerry Silva; 2. Lucky Chucky, SGS Partners, Perretti Racing Stable, Lindy Racing Stable; 3. Pilgrims Taj, Robert Bongiorno, Pilgrims Taj Stable, Bix DeMeo, Val D’Or Farms; 4. Mystery Photo, David Prushnok, John Prushnok, Ervin Miller, William Gregg; 5. Wishing Stone, Cowboyland Aalborg; 6. Muscle Massive, Brixton Medical AB, Order By Stable, Louie Camara, Katz-Libfeld-Goldband; 7. On The Tab, Christina Takter, John Fielding, Louie Camara, Falkbolagen AB; 8. Hard Livin, Christina Takter, John Fielding, Falkbolagen AB; 9. Temple Of Doom, Robert Rosenheim Stables; 10. Holiday Road, Jerry Silva, TLP Stable, Four Friends Racing Stable, Deo Volente-Peck Stable.