by Peter Kleinhans, for The Red Mile

Lexington, KY — Young trotters were on display Friday night at The Red Mile, with no fewer than nine divisions of John Simpson Stakes action.

Nigel Soult Photo

Muscle Bound edged Slovenia in their Simpson Stake division.

The sixth race, a division featuring two-year-old trotting colts, was bet by the public as a two horse battle between two sons of Muscles Yankee — Muscle Bound and Muscle Shoals. Muscle Shoals was made the slight favorite of the two, but it was the Ron Gurfein-trained Muscle Bound who got the job done, fighting off the challenge from Muscle Shoals on the turn and digging in for a 1:57⁴ victory.

The freshman out of the top racemare Habit is owned by Brittany Farms, who have been on a roll with their racing stock over the last couple nights, as well as Jerry Silva and the Sampson Street Stables.

Slovenia, the early leader, let Muscle Bound go at the half and held surprisingly well for second at 37-1. Self Professed was third.

In other Simpson action, Hambletonian third-place finisher Cash Hall arrived at The Red Mile, was promptly installed as a 1-20 favorite, and came through, rewarding his backers with a $2.10 win price.

Relaxed off the early action, Cash Hall avoided a break by Powerful Emotion, moved first over and took command off the turn, before holding off an impressive late charge from another Gurfein trainee, Sky Watch.

Cash Hall is owned by the Robert McIntosh Stable, the CSX Stable, Michael Kohler, and the Cash Hall Stable. John Campbell piloted the top three-year-old who is now nearing $300,000 in lifetime earnings, and who is being pointed towards the Red Mile Grand Circuit events.

On the pacing side, Odds On Charmaine took down the Filly and Mare Preferred, with a blistering second-quarter brush.

After a first quarter paced in :29³, Odds On Charmaine was sitting fifth, about five lengths off the lead. At the half, she had taken the lead in a clocking of :55⁴. Do the math and that gives Odds On Charmaine an individual second quarter in an exceptional :25¹.

Despite the fractions, the four-year-old Western Hanover mare, owned by Odds On Racing and trained by Robin Schadt, had enough left to hold off Remarkable Star and Are Those Real for the win.

Other Simpson winners included Bare It All (Ron Pierce), in 1:57⁴ for owner-trainer Chris Beaver and David Lang in the second. The Sierra Kosmos two-year-old has not been off the board in four lifetime starts.

Miss Possessed (Pierce) won the third in 1:59¹, with a last quarter in :27⁴, for Al Libfeld and Marvin Katz. Brett Pelling trains the daughter of Self Possessed.

Muscles Yankee produced two other Simpson winners, including Muscle Memory (David Miller) in the fourth in 1:57⁴. It was the third win in a row for Muscle Memory, who scored for owners Edmund and Diane Smith, Paul Nojaim and Christina Takter, and who is trained by Jimmy Takter.

Muscles In Blue (John Campbell) swept the field from far back, trotting a last quarter in :27⁴ to post a 1:59 win in the 11th. The developing colt is owned by Charles Sylvester, Irving Liverman, and the Wingedfoot Farms, and is trained by Charles Sylvester.

New Jersey sire Donerail also produced a pair of Simpson winners. Soutaine Hanover took the opener for David Miller. The Brett Pelling-trained filly was engaged in a bitter stretch duel with co-favorite Hawaiian Delight, when that one made a break in deep stretch, leaving Soutaine Hanover all alone for the three and a half length win. She is owned by David McDuffee and Irving Liverman.

The other Donerail winner, Maple Grove Smoky, provided the night’s longest price, a $39.60 win mutuel. The roan filly appeared beaten at the top of the stretch but fought back gamely for the 1:56³ win. It was a major return to form for the Joseph Mullins-owned miss, who had been soundly beaten in the Review Stake at Springfield.

The final Simpson winner was the three-year-old colt Con Man, driven by John Patterson, Jr. Despite a brutal first-over journey, Con Man took advantage of breaks by the two favorites, Yakuza Hall and Rocky Balboa, to earn a 1:56² win in the $30,700 event. He is owned by the Our Stromboli Farm and trained by Robert Stewart.

Simpson action continues from The Red Mile on Saturday night.