Merrie Annabelle winner Muscovite wins qualifier

Besides Mister Big there were several other stars competing in qualifiers at the Meadowlands Thursday, including Always A Virgin, who won two-thirds of pacing’s Triple Crown last year with victorious efforts in the Cane Pace and Messenger. Always A Virgin made his second qualifying appearance of his 4-year-old year and he finished fourth behind the winning The Chosen One, who crossed the wire first in 1:53.4.

The 2007 Merrie Annabelle winner Muscovite made her 3-year-old debut for trainer Ron Gurfein and driver Mike Lachance, with the daughter of Muscles Yankee leading from gate to wire in 1:56.4.

The Don Swick-trained Lonestar Legend was also an impressive qualifying winner as David Miller guided the 3-year-old son of Western Hanover to a 1:50.4 victory. The effort prompted Meadowlands track handicapper Dave Brower to state the colt was “under total death grips with a back half of :53.4.” Brower also noted that Lonestar Legend was not eligible to the Meadowlands Pace.

In that same race, Duneside Perch, who was purchased for $700,000 last January, finished fifth in what was his second qualifier of the year. Duneside Perch was beaten 13 lengths in the mile, race-timed in 1:53.2.

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