Muscle Dynasty muscled his way to victory and captured the $32,895 Open Handicap Trot at Bally's Dover on Tuesday night (Jan. 2).
That Ole Bar Stool rocketed to the top and grabbed the lead, trotting the opening quarter in :27.3. The 9-5 bettors' choice, Muscle Dynasty, left from post eight, but was parked for part of the mile. That Ole Bar Stool stubbornly surrendered the lead to Muscle Dynasty, who led the field of top trotters to the half in :57. Black Hope, who lost his cover when Muscle Dynasty cleared, was forced to race first-over up the backstretch. Fifty Ways shadowed second-over while I Get It raced third-over. Muscle Dynasty and Black Hope duelled to the three-quarters in 1:25.4. In the stretch, That Ole Bar Stool danced along the pylons and Black Hope continued to pressure the leading Muscle Dynasty in a photo finish at the wire. Muscle Dynasty held on to win by a nose in 1:55.2. That Ole Bar Stool finished second and Black Hope was third.
Frank Chick of Harrington, Delaware owns the winner, trained by Walter Callahan. Corey Callahan provided the winning drive for the six-year-old Muscle Hill gelding, who is now a 17-time career winner. Muscle Dynasty paid $5.80 to win.
Corey Callahan won six races on the card.
Racing resumes on Wednesday night (Jan. 3) with a first post of 4:30 p.m.
(With files from Dover Downs)