One of harness racing’s game veterans, 11-year-old trotter Muscles For Life, redeemed himself from a rare miscue last week and took top honours in the $12,055 Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) race at Northfield Park on Sunday night, June 2.
Driven by 23-year-old Lauren Harmon, Muscles For Life, away last in this octet over Cleveland’s iconic half-mile oval, circled the competition and closed fastest of all to score by a head in a “bang-bang” finish, stopping the finish line beam in 1:59.
Kandy Sweet, handled by Larry Ferrari, was just a head back after sticking his nose briefly in front just yards from the wire, while Forky, with Don Sherman in the sulky, finished third, just another head back, after a game journey on the outside looking in the final five-eighths of a mile.
Light Blue Movers, with Braiden Rhoades handling the lines, cut all the fractions -- :28.1, :58.2 and 1:28 over this track labelled “good” -- but wound up fourth, just a nose in front of Brigotto, who picked up the nickel for Henry Beachy.
It was a competitive event from start to finish as Kandy Sweet left well and led before yielding to Light Blue Movers just before the opening marker with post seven starter Swan Leader finding a spot in third and Fashion Star next.
After the opener, the action picked up noticeably as Forky brushed from sixth to join the leader halfway through with Kandy Sweet forced to be patient on his inside. Muscles For Life, at this point, was still last but able to catch live cover from Brigotto.
At the third station, the top three positions were still unchanged with Muscles For Life third-over about four lengths away but starting to gnaw away once straightened away and was up just in time.
In a post race interview, Harmon said, “What can I say? He raced giant tonight. I know he likes the front, but that was impossible tonight because all the others around were leaving. What 'Muscles' did tonight is not at easy task, especially on a half-miler. Horses may lose a step when aging a bit, but they never lose their class!”
Trained by Krista Harmon for owner Jerald Hawks, Muscles For Life earned his first win of the season in eight starts. The son of Muscle Mass bumped his bankroll to $554,140 with his 49th career win.
Off as the third choice in the wagering, Muscles For Life paid $14.60 to win.
GLADA is one of several amateur driving clubs that enriches worthy charitable causes as every member donates 100 per cent of their earnings from these races for charitable distribution ranging from the Make-A-Wish Foundation to equine rescue missions and retraining for retired Standardbreds for second carers as therapeutic horses, show horses and riding horses.
(With files from GLADA)