First raceoff since 2002

Cool Muscles came away a winner in her first-ever stakes appearance as the 3-year-old daughter of Muscles Yankee was victorious in the $105,000 World Filly Trotting Derby Friday afternoon at the Du Quoin, Ill. fairgrounds. Cool Muscles defeated Miss Wisconsin by one length in a two-horse raceoff after both were victorious in the first two heats.

The stage was set for the two-filly showdown--the first in the World Filly Trotting Derby since 2002--after Cool Muscles and driver Dave Magee overcame a first-over journey from the half on to win the first heat in 1:55.2, with Miss Wisconsin and driver Mike Lachance second. The tables were turned in the second heat as Miss Wisconsin held on over a late-closing Cool Muscles to win in 1:55.

While a light sprinkle began to fall over the fairgrounds at the start of the raceoff, it was only fitting that a trainer named Sprinkle--Buck Sprinkle--would come away a winner. Magee took the lead with Cool Muscles as Lachance was content to sit second. The order remained unchanged through fractions of :28.2, :58.2 and 1:28 before Cool Muscles trotted a final panel of :27 flat to secure the victory.

Sprinkle paid $52,000 for Cool Muscles as a yearling but the filly did not start at two. She went winless in her first seven starts of 2006 before finally breaking her maiden on Aug. 24 at The Red Mile with a 1:58.1 win in a conditioned trot. Sprinkle said afterward he only made the decision to enter Cool Muscles in the World Filly Trotting Derby 20 minutes before the entry box closed. The result was his first-ever win in the race, and it was also Magee's first as well.

"She's an awfully nice filly," said Magee. "She came into the race on a roll. She was ready."

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