Mercer is muscular

Muscular ($15.80) was able to overcome starting from the far outside in post nine and muscle his way to the lead by the opening quarter mile and then hold on at the finish for a head victory over Talk About Me in winning the $10,000 Open Handicap Trot at Pompano Park Wednesday.

The featured race started off with Guy Gets Girl (Bruce Ranger) going to the early lead from post three and stuffing Talk About Me into the two hole by the opening quarter mile in :28.3. But Dave Mercer already had Muscular on the move from the start and they were able to clear by race favorite Guy Gets Girl before the half mile mark in :57.2. Then in the backstretch, Napolitano made his move with Talk About Me and came on the outside to challenge Muscular to the three-quarters in 1:26.3.

As they came down the stretch, Talk About Me continued to gain ground and looked to be a possible winner but Muscular dug in at the finish to win in a photo in 1:56. Guy Gets Girl was third.

It was the first start of the New Year for Muscular, who is now a 7-year-old stallion by Muscles Yankee. Muscular closed out 2006 with 10 wins for owner-trainer Mercer of Springfield, Ill., and has $83,000 in earnings. (Pompano)

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