He's A Demon fastest of 3 Dancer winners

The road to the Hambletonian is underway in earnest now that the Stanley Dancer Memorial Trot is in the books. Three divisions of the Dancer were held Saturday night at the Meadowlands, with the winners He’s A Demon (1:53.1), Muscle Massive (1:53.4) and Holiday Road (1:54). 

He’s A Demon shipped in from Mohawk Racetrack and used a big stretch rally—he was fifth, 3 ½ lengths back at the top of the lane—to win by a head in 1:53.1. Driver Jody Jamieson bided his time at the back of the field as Cassis set the fractions of :26.4 and :55.4 and 1:24.2, but was edged at the wire. Coco Lindy took third, three-quarters of a length back. 

He’s A Demon is a son of Muscles Yankee and the Garland Lobell mare Sabrina Hall. He’s trained by Jeff Gillis, who shares ownership of the colt with 1140545 Ontario Ltd. and Gerald Stay. The time was a new lifetime best for the colt, and the win was his fourth of the season in six starts. 

Muscle Massive won the second split, worth $130,000, in 1:53.4, but the colt’s trainer, Jimmy Takter, felt the horse was better in his previous win the Dickerson Cup on July 2 at the Meadowlands. 

“Obviously, he won the race, so it was a great performance. But he was better last start,” said Takter after the race. 

Muscle Massive was raced mostly on the front end by driver Ron Pierce, who made the classic Meadowlands move to the front just past the first quarter (:28). Pierce set the tempo the rest of the way, :56.1 and 1:25.3, with Muscle Massive turning in a :28.1 last quarter to defeat the Jonas Czernyson-trained Temple Of Doom by one length. Pilgrims Chuckie rallied from last at the top of the stretch to finish third.

Muscle Massive, a son of Muscles Yankee-Graceful Touch, is owned by Brixton Medical, Order By Stable, Louis Camara, Al Libfeld, Sam Goldband and Marvin Katz. He’s now three for six this season. 

Betting favorite Holiday Road won the third division, also worth $130,000, in 1:54, which was quite a bit slower than the 1:52.4 mile he posted in winning his Dickerson Cup division on July 2. 

In the Dancer driver Brian Sears settled Holiday Road third at the pylons as Tim Tetrick sent Break The Bank K to the lead at the start. After the :27 first quarter was posted, Sears made his move to the front. 

After the half was passed (:56.3), Pilgrim’s Taj was in pursuit first-over, with Lucky Chucky second-over. Campbell had Lucky Chucky slightly behind his cover when the three-quarter time flashed (1:26.1), but in the stretch drive the odd-gaited colt kept digging in despite looking rough gaited. 

Holiday Road held on for the victory, with Lucky Chucky one-half length back in second. Mystery Photo was a closing third and Break The Bank K held on for fourth. 

Greg Peck, who won last year’s Hambletonian with Muscle Hill, trains Holiday Road and shares ownership with Jerry Silva, TLP Stable, Four Friends Racing, and Deo Volente. 

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