Muscle Matters ($7.10) sustained a first-over grind for nine-sixteenths of a mile to wear down pacesetter Seeyou Men in the featured $11,500 Preferred 2 for trotters on an unseasonably mild Wednesday evening (Jan. 10) at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

The seven-year-old Muscle Mass gelding had no trouble landing in third early, rating off Seeyou Men (Robert Shepherd) and Fluff Me Up (Brett MacDonald) through a :29 first quarter before working closer on the far turn. Scott Coulter angled Muscle Matters first-over with nine-sixteenths to go, committing in earnest at race’s midpoint as Star Photo (Alfie Carroll) improved in the two-path just behind. After a 1:00.1 first half mile, Muscle Matters advanced to force a :29.2 third sectional out of Seeyou Men and turned up the heat on the final turn.

Despite a game effort from longtime pacesetter Seeyou Men, Muscle Matters was able to duel him down 70 yards from the winning post, edging away to prevail by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.3 over good going. Seeyou Men held second over the ground-saving Awol Hanover (Paul MacKenzie), who reached third over pocket foe Fluff Me Up.

Trainer Benoit Baillargeon co-owns Muscle Matters with Nunzio and Santo Vena, along with Richard Thompson. The London his was her third preferred score in his last five starts, and the 17th victory of his career.

An hour earlier, Coulter and Baillargeon teamed up with Absolut Seelster ($3.00) to also capture the sub-featured $8,900 Preferred 3 trotting event. The five-year-old Angus Hall mare crushed her foes as the twos-on favourite, brushing from third the first time up the far side and drawing away handily off the home turn to score by four lengths over Overcomebyvictory (Shepherd) and Ionia (Nick Steward). Absolut Seelster covered a mile and a sixteenth in 2:06.2 for owners Thomas and Elizabeth Rankin.

To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.