by Ken Weingartner, Harness Racing Communications

Toronto, ON — Muscle Hill is the insider. Well Said and Vintage Master are the outsiders.

World champion trotter Muscle Hill will start Saturday’s C$617,880 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt trot at Woodbine Racetrack from post No. 1 with regular driver Brian Sears and was made the 1-5 favorite in the morning line.

Well Said, who is the 8-5 favorite in the C$617,880 Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt pace, was not as fortunate, drawing post No. 9 for his race Saturday while rival Vintage Master got post 10.

The draws for both races were conducted Tuesday at Woodbine. The remaining six Breeders Crown races were drawn over the weekend.

Breeders Crown photo

Honorary Drawmaster Warren Moon helps select post positions for the C$617,880 Breeders Crown colt pace.

Former quarterback Warren Moon, who was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2001 and the National Football League’s Pro Hall of Fame in 2006 after distinguished careers in both leagues, was the guest drawmaster. Moon will also be inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, along with driver John Campbell, on November 3 in Toronto.

Muscle Hill, whose victories this year include the Hambletonian, Canadian Trotting Classic, Kentucky Futurity and World Trotting Derby, will be attempting to end his career with an undefeated season. He enters the Breeders Crown with 11 wins this year and has won 19 consecutive races since finishing second in his career debut as a 2-year-old in July 2008.

“I was very pleased with the draw,” Muscle Hill’s trainer Greg Peck said. “Anytime you draw the rail you have to be happy. I’ve always liked the rail.

“The horse is in good shape and he’s ready to go. He’s been good all year. I’m at the point now where I’m ready to go and he’s ready to go.”

Never in the history of harness racing’s Horse of the Year voting, which began in 1947, has a trotter won the honor with an undefeated season. That could change if Muscle Hill — the No. 1 ranked horse in the weekly poll — wins the Breeders Crown.

Also, a victory Saturday will give Muscle Hill harness racing’s single-season record for U.S. earnings. Muscle Hill will surpass $2.45 million with the triumph, breaking pacer Somebeachsomewhere’s record of $2.44 million set last year.

Peck is not going to let the pressure of completing an undefeated campaign interfere with embracing the moment.

“I’m going to enjoy it. I’ve enjoyed him all year,” Peck said. “But it’s still a horse race. He’s still got to go out and do it. We’re not going to take anything for granted, that’s for sure.”

Swan For All, who has won six of eight career races, was made the 8-1 second choice.

Well Said, who won the Pepsi North America Cup, Meadowlands Pace and Little Brown Jug, will have regular driver Ron Pierce in the sulky. The colt won from the most outside post in the opening heat of the Little Brown Jug.

“What are you going to do?” trainer Steve Elliott said. “You draw where you draw, and you go from there. We’ve had our steady diet of it (outside), but we’ll be OK.”

Vintage Master, who won the Delvin Miller Adios and Cane Pace, will be driven by Daniel Dube. He is coming off consecutive victories in divisions of the Tattersalls and Bluegrass stakes at Lexington’s Red Mile.

“There’s not much I can do about (the draw),” Vintage Master’s trainer Jimmy Takter said. “It’s going to be a horserace. I probably would have a better shot if I was inside of him, but what are you going to do? It’s the worst post you can have there, but you never know. The horse is doing fine.”

Mr Wiggles, who won the only elimination race needed for the event, will start from post two. The connections of the horse got to pick the starting spot on the basis of winning the elim over the weekend.

“He’s doing really well,” trainer Brenda Teague said. “If we race as well as we did last Saturday, I think my chances are as good as anybody else’s. He’s a good horse just like they all are. He’s a great horse and a lot of fun to be with. He’s got a good attitude.”

Here is the field for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt trot final:

1. Muscle Hill, Brian Sears, Greg Peck, 1-5
2. Hot Shot Blue Chip, Mike Lachance, Jonas Czernyson, 25-1
3. Tom Cango, Tim Tetrick, Jim Campbell, 25-1
4. Striking Lindsey, Doug McNair, Gregg McNair, 40-1
5. Neighsay Hanover, John Campbell, Trond Smedshammer, 20-1
6. Triumphant Caviar, Luc Ouellette, Chris Beaver, 25-1
7. Swan For All, Jody Jamieson, Erv Miller, 8-1
8. Howthehaloareyou, Dave Palone, Anette Lorentzon, 20-1
9. PJ Clark, Andy Miller, Julie Miller, 20-1
10. Broadway Bistro, George Brennan, Jim Campbell, 20-1

Here is the field for the Breeders Crown 3-year-old colt pace final:

1. Keep It Real, Steve Condren, Joey Shea, 20-1
2. Mr Wiggles, Corey Callahan, Brenda Teague, 9-2
3. Vertical Horizon, Jim Morrill Jr., Tracy Brainard, 25-1
4. Dial Or Nodial, Brian Sears, Jim Campbell, 5-1
5. Annieswesterncard, Dave Palone, Joe Seekman, 25-1
6. If I Can Dream, Tim Tetrick, Tracy Brainard, 6-1
7. Carnivore, Jody Jamieson, Jack Darling, 15-1
8. Bay Of Sharks, Mario Baillargeon, Ben Wallace, 10-1
9. Well Said, Ron Pierce, Steve Elliott, 8-5
10. Vintage Master, Daniel Dube, Jimmy Takter, 5-1